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FAST ACTION, BETTER CARE
FOR STROKE PATIENTS
Advanced Stroke Center
A
stroke is something everyone hopes
to avoid. But if stroke strikes, getting
toMethodist Hospital could save your
life—and ultimately, your quality of
life as well.That’s because Methodist Hospital has
been certified as an Advanced Stroke Center. It is
a recognition that is vital to the health of everyone
in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond—because, in
case of stroke, every minute counts.
Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a
stroke—and every four minutes, someone dies of
one. Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability
in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke
survivors alive today.
What causes a stroke?
Strokes are caused by bleeding
within the brain or by a
blockage of blood flow to the
brain. It is essential for anyone
who might have had a stroke to
be diagnosed and treated
right away. But if a
patient’s local health
center lacks the
necessary expertise
and technology,
he or she will need
to be transferred
to another
facility—which
means losing important time during a medical
emergency. Methodist Hospital is one of a handful
of institutions in Los Angeles County with a
multidisciplinary stroke team and the complete
range of services that stroke patients need.
“To become certified, we had to meet rigorous
criteria that ensure our stroke patients would be
seen quickly, diagnosed and treated right away,”
explains Kenneth Wogensen, MD, medical director
of the stroke center. “In case of stroke, time loss is
brain loss.”
Dr. Wogensen’s advice? “If someone is suspected to
have had a stroke, don’t wait. Call 911 immediately
and have the patient taken to Methodist Hospital
or the nearest certified stroke center.”
What can be done?
As soon as a suspected stroke patient is admitted,
he or she will be evaluated; given a CT scan and
blood tests to determine if a stroke has occurred;
and treated with surgery or a clot-busting drug,
such as tissue plasminogen activator, or TPA.
Some of the latest treatments are minimally in-
vasive procedures using tiny instruments that are
threaded through a blood vessel. These eliminate
the need to open the skull, reduce the risk of surgi-
cal side effects and speed recovery time (see “New
Technique” at right).
After treatment, stroke patients typically need some
rehabilitation, depending on the severity of the
stroke and which functions have been affected—
for instance, speech, walking and use of the
upper body. In October 2011, Methodist Hospital
Kenneth Wogensen,
MD, Director,
Methodist Hospital
Stroke Center
Know the SIGNS
of a stroke...
Stroke is a medical emergency.
Know these warning signs of stroke
and teach them to others.
Every second counts!
Act F.A.S.T.
F
ACE
Facial droop, uneven smile
A
RMS
Arm numbness or weakness
S
PEECH
Slurred speech and difficulty
speaking or understanding
T
IME
CALL 911
and get to the
hospital immediately if you
have any of the above signs
or symptoms.