Newton Memorial Hospital gets $85,000 grant for stroke center
Newton - Newton Memorial Hospital has been awarded an $85,120 grant from the N.J. Dept. of Health and Senior Services to help the hospital obtain designation as a “primary stroke center.” The grant is provided through the Stroke Center Act passed by the state legislature in September 2004 to facilitate the development of stroke centers in the stae. The guidelines are based on the Brain Attack Coalition’s recommendations for primary stroke centers and the American Stroke Association’s guidelines for stroke care. According to the American Heart Association, each year more than 600,000 Americans experience a new or recurrent stroke - or about one every 53 seconds - making it the nation’s third leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Fast treatment is key to stroke survival. Unfortunately, most patients with signs and symptoms of a stroke wait an average of 23 hours before seeking help, and it is this that account for vast numbers of untreatable patients. Time is important! The hospital will use the grant to establish the components necessary to apply for the designation. “While the hospital already provides all of the acute care services required for the designation, a large part of what needs to be accomplished is education of the public and the first responders,” said David Meltz, M.D., vice president of medical affairs. Much of the grant money will be used for staff education, first-responder education, community education and awareness regarding the importance of a rapid response to the warning signs of stroke. A stroke is often referred to as a “brain attack” because, just as the blood flow to the heart is restricted in a “heart attack,” a stroke is a condition where the blood flow in the brain is restricted. When a brain attack occurs, the patient’s brain does not receive an adequate supply of oxygen, and significant damage to portions of the brain, or even death, can occur. A person experiencing a stroke who can complete emergency care within a couple of hours has a statistically significantly improved chance for survival and recovery. Drs. Marsha Dover and Yevgeniy Khesin, neurologists and co-medical directors of the hospital’s stroke center, emphasized the importance of the earliest possible response to stroke. “It is extremely important to remember to call 911 or get to an emergency department immediately if you have numbness or weakness on one side and/or changes in speech or vision,” they declared. “The faster you come to the emergency department and acute care is given, the greater the chances for more complete recovery.” This response and the care of stroke patients are being planned and implemented by a coordinated team that includes physicians, nurses and staff from across the continuum of care within the hospital. Recognize the warning symptoms of a stroke Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden, severe headache with no known cause IF YOU EXPERIENCE THESE SIGNS, CALL 9-1-1