Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Spring 2019

dameronhospital.org 15 DAMERON HOSPITAL’S partnership with the Stanford Stroke Center at Stanford Hospital & Clinics in treating stroke patients has helped to solidify the clinical excellence of our stroke care and has led to recognition by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as a Get With the Guidelines Silver Plus Award winner. To earn this prestigious recognition, Dameron Hospital had to meet rigorous standards over a period of 12 months that included specific quality of care measures that track how we consistently provide effective treatment for different types of strokes. The measures include the timeliness of our administration of tPA, which stands for tissue plasminogen activator— the main clot-dissolving medication for strokes involving arteries in the brain blocked by a blood clot. To meet these guidelines, it’s essential that the treatment process include an accurate way to quickly identify and confirm that an incoming patient is suffering from a stroke. Award-winning stroke care Rapid response for stroke Dameron’s rapid response process to identify and treat patients experiencing a stroke is referred to as a “Code Neuro,” which begins with an overhead page that triggers a rapid team intervention for patients in our Emergency Department or for inpatients with new-onset stroke symptoms. “When a Code Neuro is announced, a multidisciplinary team of nurses, physicians, phlebotomists and nursing leadership immediately responds to the code to rapidly assess the situation,” says Eric Cornwell, MD, Dameron Hospital Chief Medical Officer. “Our Radiology Department also responds by readying the CT scanner to receive the patient, while the pharmacy team prepares to administer tPA, if necessary.” Based on the initial evaluation and the CT results, the attending physician or hospitalist collaborates with the Stanford Stroke Center Team on treatment options. Patients experiencing ischemic strokes, which occur as a result of a blockage in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain, may receive tPA intravenously. If the patient meets specific criteria, they are immediately transported via air ambulance to the Stanford Stroke Center for further evaluation and endovascular therapy, which is the physical removal of the blockage using a catheter-based approach. For hemorrhagic stroke, which is bleeding caused by a burst brain aneurysm or a weakened blood vessel leak, the patient’s treatment will depend on the severity and location of the bleed. The vast majority of strokes are ischemic. “Our Code Neuro Program was developed to identify, diagnose and begin treatment of stroke patients in a matter of minutes because the speed of treatment can save lives and reduce the long-term effects of stroke for the patient,” says Dr. Cornwell. GET THE BEST CARE HERE Learn more at dameronhospital.org/stroke . Dameron receives its award certificate from the American Heart & Stroke Association. From left to right: Ann Leale, AHA Business Development Director; Katie Malone, AHA Executive Director; Andy Hoedt, AHA Regional Director for Quality; Denise Hair, RN, Dameron CNO; Wendy Dennis, RN, Dameron Assistant CNO.