Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in America. In Massachusetts, 17,799 people were hospitalized with stroke symptoms and 3,557

Click the picture above for the full size poster on Stroke Signs

people died as a result of a stroke in 2002. Stroke places a tremendous public health and economic burden on the Commonwealth and its health care system.

In order to improve the care that acute stroke patients receive, and to increase the likelihood that they receive prompt access to definitive care, The Department of Public Health has designated select hospitals as Primary Stroke Service facilities. In December 2004, through a rigorous certification process, Faulkner became a designated primary stroke service facility. A part of maintaining this title requires that the hospital follow very specific stroke protocols for patient assessment and care as well as commit to continually educating the publics about warning signs and symptoms of stroke.

As a Primary Stroke Service facility, Faulkner Hospital provides emergency diagnostic and therapeutic services by a multidisciplinary team 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week to patients presenting with symptoms of acute stroke. A comprehensive plan designated to assess and treat stroke patients, expedites patient flow from arrival at the Emergency Room through diagnostic testing to treatment for patients meeting the criteria for administration of the clot busting drug tPA.

Though about 610,000 new strokes are reported in the US each year, the good news is that treatments are available that can greatly reduce the damage caused by stroke. However, you need to recognize the symptoms and get to a hospital quickly. It is important to be aware of stroke symptoms, which include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body).
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one of both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss or balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you believe you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.

One aspect of a Primary Stroke Service facility certification requirement is that the hospital provides education to the community about stroke signs and how important it is to be seen in a stroke center as soon as possible. Since Faulkner's certification in December 2004, an extensive stroke education program has been developed. Already existing programs and community relationships are used as a venue to educate the community about stroke. Annually, education efforts reach more than 4,000 community members. Additionally, Faulkner uses its website, waiting areas, press releases, mailings, and various communications to further educate the community about stroke.

If you have any questions regarding stroke, stroke education or life after stroke, an email address was established (FHstroke@partners.org) so that community members may contact Faulkner for additional materials or to receive answers to questions they may have on stroke.

For more information on the newly created Stroke Support Group here at Faulkner Hospital, click here.

Links

Community Health and Benefits
Community Health Offerings
Stroke Service at Faulkner Hospital