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Enhanced stroke care program implemented at New Ulm Medical CenterMore than 750,000 Americans will have a stroke — or brain attack — this year, and 160,000 cases will be fatal. Through prevention, education and treatment, the enhanced stroke program at New Ulm Medical Center is working to lower these numbers locally and improve a patient's chances of recovering from a stroke with fewer complications.
 Jody Kuelbs, RN (l) and Vicki Beltz, RN demonstrate how to prepare the “clot-busting” drugs to help minimize damage following a stroke. When someone has a stroke, every second counts. From the moment a person show signs of having a stroke—numbness, double vision, headache, slurred speech or coordination issues—the clock is ticking in a race against time. The more time passes before stroke treatment, the more damage is done to the brain. The enhanced stroke program at New Ulm Medical Center provides immediate treatment for stroke 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dramatically improving response times, its capacity to treat stroke patients and coordinating care with transfer hospitals for neurological consultations. Also known as a "brain attack," stroke is the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. Stroke is a result of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die. The goal of the enhanced stroke program at New Ulm Medical Center is to restore blood circulation before brain tissue dies. The time frame for reaching this goal is frighteningly slim. Treatment usually has to begin within 60 minutes of a stroke to prevent brain cell death, which is significant enough to cause long-term disability. The program works like this: when a stroke patient arrives at New Ulm Medical Center, preferably by ambulance, medical staff members complete a stroke assessment. This assessment includes a radiologist reporting the results of a CT scan to confirm the type of a stroke and the problem causing it within 45 minutes of arrival to the Emergency Department. Next, the emergency department physician consults with a neurologist, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, to determine a stroke intervention plan. The plan includes giving a “clot-buster” drug within a three-hour window after the first stroke symptoms appear to dissolve the blood clot. After this window, the drug is less effective, increasing the risk of disability and damage. This makes it very important for people who think they're having a stroke to seek help immediately. If given promptly, the “clot-buster” drug can significantly reduce the effects of stroke and reduce permanent disability. According to Julie Halvorson, RN, manager of the New Ulm Medical Center Emergency Department, "What's difficult for some patients is that they may experience mini-strokes. These mini-strokes can mislead patients from seeking immediate medical attention because the symptoms may come and go. "Strokes can devastate the lives of patients and families. It’s very rewarding to provide this level of care and critical that patients make the choice to come in early, so we can help achieve the best outcome possible," said Halvorson. Both Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, and United Hospital, St. Paul, part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, have been awarded Primary Stroke Center Certification and the Gold Seal of Approval™ for stroke care from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Related Links Health information about Stroke  Back to Health Edition |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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