PIH Teaches Community to Respond FAST in Case of Stroke

May 14, 2012 - PRLog -- May is National Stroke Awareness month and Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) wants the community to recognize the warning signs of a stroke so they can act quickly and call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke.

Everyone should know the various signs of stroke so that they can help others in a time of need. The acronym FAST stands for face, arms, speech and time.
• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost,” said PIH’s Administrator of Emergency and Disaster Services, Joan Rolland, RN, BS, MBA, MICN. “Once 9-1-1 is called, and a stroke patient is brought into PIH’s Emergency department, a CODE STROKE is immediately activated and a specialized team is called.”

PIH is designated by Los Angeles County as a Stroke Center and certified by The Joint Commission in disease specific care for stroke. PIH has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the Emergency department. This includes always being equipped to provide brain-imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.

In December 2011, PIH received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM–Stroke (GWTG–Stroke) Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognized PIH’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

“PIH is committed to focus on improving the quality of stroke care. As a designated acute stroke center in Los Angeles, our objective is to provide exceptional care to our community,” said Rolland.

According to the National Stroke Association, about 795,000 Americans will suffer a stroke this year, yet most people in the U.S. cannot identify stroke warning signs or risk factors. Many strokes – some studies indicate up to 80 percent – can be prevented through risk factor management.

Stroke is largely preventable. It helps to manage risk factors, such as high-blood pressure, weight, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes and more. For additional information, visit www.stroke.org.

About Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital
Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) is a 400-plus bed acute care, non-profit hospital which was founded in 1959 with the community’s trust and support — values retained today by maintaining the highest standards in medical services, in turn making us the area’s acknowledged leading healthcare center. Through commitment to outstanding patient care, respect and compassion for all, responsiveness, integrity, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship, the PIH team is devoted to serving the needs of its community. PIH’s healthcare team is comprised of a stellar clinical staff of almost 600 board-certified physicians representing a broad range of medical specialties, highly qualified nurses, and other exemplary staff. Those who are interested in supporting PIH via a donation, may visit www.pih.net and click the “donate now” button to make a gift to the PIH Foundation.