Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 3, 2020

Our stellar stroke team, from left: Jamie Karambay, M.D., emergency medicine physician; Ashley Miller, BSN, RN, Trauma Services manager; Bill Britt, M.D., Kootenai Clinic Neurology, stroke program medical director; Megan Strowd, PA, Kootenai Health Neurology; and Colleen Clayson, BSN, RN, quality improvement specialist FACE DROOPING. Does one side of the face droop? Is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven? ARM WEAKNESS. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH DIFFICULTY. Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Can the person repeat back a simple sentence? TIME TO CALL 911— even if the signs go away. Getting fast treatment may help limit damage to the brain. F OGRAM GETS OR QUALITY Act F.A.S.T. Know the Sudden Signs of Stroke A S T neurologist Bill Britt, M.D., medical director of Kootenai Health’s stroke program. “This includes the ED physicians, nursing staff, neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, laboratory services, intensive care, hospitalists, pharmacy and rehabilitation therapists. The stroke program organizes these services, updates protocols as strategies improve, oversees quality of care initiatives and provides education about these services.” Precious time Having the right team is important Other Stroke Symptoms Sudden: • Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body. • Confusion. • Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes. • Trouble walking or dizziness. • Severe headache. Source: American Stroke Association when it comes to stroke treatment. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. “Everybody should know the signs and symptoms of stroke,” Ashley said. “Time is crucial, and the window for intervention is small. The best thing anyone experiencing stroke symptoms can do is call 911 and not wait to get treatment. Calling EMS is the quickest way to get treatment, as they can begin treatments and interventions while transporting to the hospital. It’s also important to know your stroke risk. Online stroke risk assessment tools are available, and primary care providers can help patients reduce their risk of stroke.” KH . ORG 15