May is National Stroke Awareness Month, designated to raise public awareness of stroke risk factors, increase recognition of stroke symptoms and the need for immediate response, and improve the quality of life for millions of stroke survivors in the United States. To raise stroke awareness, North Fulton Regional Hospital is taking time to educate first responders and clinical leaders about stroke and how to properly respond to help secure the best possible outcome for the patient.
“National Stroke Awareness Month serves as a critical reminder to Americans to know the signs and symptoms of stroke and to call 911 immediately when they experience or witness a stroke;” explains Pat Victor, Stroke Coordinator for North Fulton Regional Hospital. “We hope our organization’s efforts will help many people avoid long-term disabilities from stroke.”
North Fulton Regional Hospital is prepared to offer high quality care to those coming to the hospital with stroke symptoms. With Silver Award Status from the American Heart Association in the area of Stroke Care and as a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center, the hospital is equipped with a full continuum of care that often begins in the Emergency Room. Depending on the needs of the patient and the speed at which he or she can get to the hospital, the physicians, nurses and therapists deliver patient specific care to help minimize the effects of the stroke. In some cases, (if a patient arrives within 3-hours of the onset of symptoms to receive the clot-busting drug tPA), a patient might be back to normal within minutes.
To help achieve positive outcomes of stroke, North Fulton Regional Hospital is committed to providing extensive education to those in the position to make medical decisions. If you are interested in more information about stroke, how to recognize the symptoms, and how North Fulton Regional Hospital responds, please call Pat Victor at 770-751-2708.
Each year, 780,000 Americans suffer a stroke, yet many people do not know the symptoms or know what to do when someone is having a stroke. Symptoms include: 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 trouble seeing in one or both eyes, or sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Stroke strikes fast. You should too. Call 9-1-1.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) urges the public to visit www.stroke.nih.gov for information on stroke symptoms, risk factors and prevention. Free materials are also available by calling 1-800-352-9424. For more information about North Fulton Regional Hospital, please visit www.northfultonregional.com or call 770-751-2500.
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North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
The NINDS, part of the National Institutes of Health, is the nation's primary supporter of biomedical research on the brain and nervous system. It is dedicated to research and education on the causes, treatment, and prevention of stroke.