Stroke Services
The Abdul Kadir, MD Stroke Center of Excellence
Medical Center Hospital has a dedicated stroke unit staffed by nurses specifically trained in the care of stroke patients. Strokes are healthcare emergencies and are sometimes called “brain attacks.” This type of cardiovascular disease affects the arteries leading to and within the brain and occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain is either blocked or bursts. When this happens, the affected part of the brain can no longer receive the blood and oxygen it needs to function and begins to die. Because the brain controls so many of the body’s vital functions, any amount of damage can be extremely serious or life-threatening.
How Can I Recognize a Stroke?
If you notice any of the following warning signs or symptoms of stroke, call 911 right away. Do not wait or attempt to drive yourself to the hospital. Do not call your doctor, family, or friend – call 911 immediately for emergency transportation to the hospital. Remember the time of symptom onset. This is important information needed to determine the proper treatment.
When these symptoms are present, it is a serious medical emergency, and every second counts:
- 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
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
To learn more about MCH Stroke Services, call (432) 640-2331.
You can learn how to recognize if someone is having a stroke by thinking B.E.F.A.S.T:
- BALANCE: Watch for dizziness or sudden loss of balance
- EYES: Check for vision loss or double vision
- FACE: Ask them to smile. Look for facial droop or an uneven smile.
- ARM: Ask them to hold up both arms. Look for weakness or drifting of one arm. Leg weakness may be present.
- SPEECH: Ask them to speak or repeat a phrase. Listen for slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
- TIME: Time saves brain tissue! Call 911 if any of these symptoms are present.
Learn More About Our Lifesaving, Distinguished Stroke Services
Medical Center Hospital’s Neuro-Service Line is proud to announce a partnership with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association and their “Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Program.” Get with the Guidelines helps ensure the continuous quality improvement of acute stroke treatment and ischemic stroke prevention. It focuses on care team protocols to ensure that patients are treated and discharged appropriately.
Medical Center Hospital has also received the Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers from the Joint Commission. Certificates of Distinction are given to elite hospitals that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients at every stage of their care. We are honored to receive this distinction, most importantly because it exemplifies our commitment to the care of the people of the Permian Basin.
To learn more about our Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp, please call (866) 688-5450 or visit www.strokecamp.org.
