Treating stroke is a matter of time. And place.
At the Stroke Center at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, we continue to reinforce one very important fact: Getting treatment for stroke within three hours of the onset of symptoms greatly improves your chances for survival and recovery. In other words, "Time is Brain".
Wilkes-Barre General Hospital developed the Stroke Center to ensure that stroke victims in our region have more than a fighting chance against this debilitating and deadly condition.
In fact, as the region's only Joint Commission accredited Primary Stroke Center, we offer the skilled professionals, sophisticated technology and proven experience to provide stroke patients with the absolute finest stroke care and treatment options.
JUST LOOK WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PATIENTS AT THE STROKE CENTER AT WILKES-BARRE GENERAL HOSPITAL:- The region's leading neurosurgery team, standing ready to provide surgical intervention if necessary.
- Highly qualified interventional radiologists who can diagnose and treat stroke quickly and efficiently.
- Stroke Team - an interdisciplinary team of nurse, physicians, pharmacists, and other clinicians and hospital support staff who provide prompt and timely care in a highly coordinated fashion.
- Immediate access to sophisticated CT scan technology and pharmaceutical treatment, such as the clot-busting drug tPA.
- In-depth education for our pre-hospital EMTs and other first responders who are most likely to begin care of stroke patients.
- The full resources of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital - the region's largest and most comprehensive acute care hospital.
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen to the brain becomes blocked or bursts. The results of stroke can include permanent brain damage, paralysis and even death.
Because of the seriousness of stroke - also called brain attack - it is essential that stroke patients receive treatment as soon as they recognize the symptoms.
Information is key when it comes to stroke. Be sure to know the symptoms of stroke and know how to act when stroke occurs.
Symptoms of stroke include:- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding.
- Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
To determine if a person is having a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T.
Face - Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?
Can he or she repeat the sentence correctly?
Time - If the person is showing any of these symptoms, time is vitally important.
Call 911 immediately.