A new and potentially life-saving technology is now being piloted
at Kane Community Hospital’s Emergency Room. KCH’s affiliation with UPMC
Hamot makes this pilot possible.
“It’s called the stroke telemedicine program,” stated KCH ER
Nurse Manager Cindy Salerno, RN, CEN, PHRN. “What that means is, when a
patient comes to our ER with stroke-like symptoms, our ER doctor and nursing
staff, and more importantly the patient, will be able to consult directly with
a neurologist at UPMC Hamot in Erie."
"When an acute stroke patient arrives at the KCH ER,
and the ER physician determines a call to UPMC Hamot is indicated, the call is
made and a neurologist is dispatched to a specialized office to begin an
assessment of the patient," Mary Parana, RN, ADON, Director of Outpatient
Services at KCH noted. "This is possible because of mobile monitoring
equipment that allows the stroke patient to be seen and be
assessed by the neurologist with video camera and monitor at both Kane and
Erie, so the ER physician, consulting neurologist and patient are able to see
and hear each other."
A specialized stethoscope can be used on the patient, which
allows the neurologist to hear the patient’s heartbeat from his office in
Erie as well as if he or she were in the room.
"This type of assessment is important because with an
acute stroke, time is critical. Patients need to be assessed by a
specialist who has the expertise and who can help develop treatment
options. Unlike when patients have a heart attack, and physicians in an
ER can use an EKG machine to diagnose what is going on, diagnosing a stroke
usually involves actually looking at the patient and talking to them.
After the neurologist completes the examination, they consult with the ER
physician and the patient’s primary care provider to decide the best
course of action. In some cases, the patient can remain close to home and
will receive treatment at KCH. Other times, it may be critical that the
patient is transferred to UPMC Hamot for more specialized treatment,"
Salerno stated.
The telemedicine pilot program launched on Monday, April 16
and is available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It
is the hope of both KCH and UPMC Hamot to eventually expand those services to
be available 24/7.
Part of the pilot process involves the training of KCH
ER nurses in the acute stroke evaluation process as well as building
skills in the technology and equipment used in the exam to enhance the
electronic exchange and ensure the consulting neurologist and patient have a
full view of one another.
Who is at risk for Stroke?
There are a number of risk factors that could increase the
likelihood of someone suffering from a stroke. Being 55 years or
older, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or suffering from
cardiovascular disease are all classic risk factors. You’re also a
candidate for stroke if you smoke cigarettes or have diabetes. Being
overweight puts you at risk, as does physical inactivity. Heavy or binge
drinking or the use of illicit drugs—like cocaine or methamphetamines,
increases your chances for a stroke.
The most common symptom is a sudden and severe headache,
which comes out of the blue. Another sign you may be having a stroke
includes trouble walking – usually this means stumbling or sudden dizziness or
loss of balance. Trouble speaking – or understanding people talking – is
another sign. Some patients find they’re unable to find the right word to
explain what is happening to them. A good check is to try and repeat a
simple sentence. If you can’t, you may be having a stroke.
Paralysis or numbness on just one side of your body or face
may also develop. In these instances, try to lift both of your arms over
your head. If you find that one arm begins to fall, seek medical
attention. Additionally, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to
smile. Some stroke patients complain about trouble seeing out of one or
both eyes because of either blurred or blackened vision or seeing double.
If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, they
should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
The sooner a stroke patient seeks treatment, the better
their outcome may be. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the
risk for possible brain damage or disability. In some cases, symptoms
fluctuate or disappear. This is NOT a sign that you’re okay and do not
need to be seen by a doctor. You should still call 911 so you can be
taken to the ER. A good rule of thumb is to get to the hospital within an
hour of the appearance of your first symptoms.
"Now, through KCH’s affiliation with UPMC Hamot,
patients fearing that they are suffering from a stroke can receive the
specialized diagnosis of a UPMC Hamot neurologist consult and the care they
need at the Kane Community Hospital ER," Parana said.
The Stroke Telemedicine program, now in pilot, follows
successful use of Telemedicine for cardiology consults at KCH.
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