Wooster Community Hospital answers stroke questions
You should call 911 if you think you are having a stroke. File photo
The following is information about strokes.
Q: If I recognize any signs of stroke, should I drive myself to the nearest emergency room or should I call 911?
A: Anyone who has signs of stroke should be transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the nearest hospital capable of treating stroke. The EMS providers will assess how severe the stroke signs are and will pre-notify the hospital that they will be arriving with a possible stroke patient. The hospital Stroke Alert team will be waiting in the ED upon EMS arrival. Stroke assessment and diagnostic testing can be done without delays and treatment decisions made when patients arrive with the EMS providers.
Stroke treatment decisions need to be made quickly and when patients arrive by private car, there may be delays in being seen by a physician, stroke sign assessment and activation of the Stroke Alert team.
So be safe-Act “FAST,” call 911. Any one of these signs could mean stroke: Face, drooping or uneven smile; arm, weakness or drift; speech, slurred speech; and time, call 911 right away.
Wooster Community Hospital (WCH) has been accredited as a Primary Stroke Center and has been awarded the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement award. WCH is committed to implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that our patients receive the best treatment according to nationally accepted standards.
For more information on the Primary Stroke Center, call 330-263-8495.
Q: If I recognize any signs of stroke, should I drive myself to the nearest emergency room or should I call 911?
A: Anyone who has signs of stroke should be transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the nearest hospital capable of treating stroke. The EMS providers will assess how severe the stroke signs are and will pre-notify the hospital that they will be arriving with a possible stroke patient. The hospital Stroke Alert team will be waiting in the ED upon EMS arrival. Stroke assessment and diagnostic testing can be done without delays and treatment decisions made when patients arrive with the EMS providers.
Stroke treatment decisions need to be made quickly and when patients arrive by private car, there may be delays in being seen by a physician, stroke sign assessment and activation of the Stroke Alert team.
So be safe-Act “FAST,” call 911. Any one of these signs could mean stroke: Face, drooping or uneven smile; arm, weakness or drift; speech, slurred speech; and time, call 911 right away.
Wooster Community Hospital (WCH) has been accredited as a Primary Stroke Center and has been awarded the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement award. WCH is committed to implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that our patients receive the best treatment according to nationally accepted standards.
For more information on the Primary Stroke Center, call 330-263-8495.