Betty Banks was having a wonderful day. It was the middle of the summer in 2009, and her husband of 38 years was outside mowing grass. Her family had gathered in her home and Banks nestled her grandchild in her arms.
As Banks stood up to retrieve a toy for her grandbaby, all of a sudden the world went blank for her. She fell and lost all memory of the event.
Banks had suffered a stroke.
Fortunately for her, Rufus Banks knew his wife was having a stroke because he had seen his mother, who had died of a stroke, suffer the same symptoms. He called the emergency center and responders were sent to treat a possible stoke victim.
The well-choreographed care of an award-winning medical program at Winter Haven Hospital then kicked in with a specific rhythm of action, and Betty Banks woke up a few days later wondering what had happened.
|
|
Margie Tobey, right, a senior physical therapy assistant, and Paul Canady, a rehabilitation technician, help patient Doris Duncan walk up stair steps as part of her therapy in the Joy-Fuller Rehabilitation Center at Winter Haven Hospital.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
|
"I was feeling so good, I was so responsive, I didn't believe I had had a stroke," Betty Banks says. "They told me I was at the stroke center for a couple of days. When I woke up in ICU, they told me I was foaming at the mouth (during the stroke), I was not responding to them when they called my name and I couldn't talk. It took me a little while to believe them that I had had a stroke. I still don't remember anything about it."
Betty Banks was lucky. Her husband recognized the signs of a stroke and Winter Haven Hospital has a proactive stroke center.
"Family members and neighbors need to be educated to know that the best thing for the patient is to get them to the emergency room as soon as possible," says Andrea Sekura, a registered nurse who is the clinical administrative director of neuro/surgery and STAR units at the hospital. "This is the most important piece of education we can teach the community - recognize the signs and symptoms and call EMS to go to the emergency department as soon as the symptoms start."
Winter Haven Hospital was designated by the American Heart Association as a primary stroke center. Since the center's inception in 2005, the hospital has received several awards, including awards of distinction from the American Stroke Association for maintaining high standards of care.
The idea to become a designated stroke center was broached by hospital staffers in 2004. By the start of 2005, the idea had become a reality.
"It was decided at that time that we could make a major difference in the lives of the stroke patients in our community if we worked toward receiving Joint Commission certification as an advanced primary stroke center," Sekura says. "This meant that we would follow strict guidelines in assuring (that) all of our patients with a stroke or transient ischemic attack (mini stroke) had each of the 10 standards addressed through mandated protocols. It also meant a commitment to educating the community on early access to seeking medical attention in the emergency room and education to prevent strokes from occurring."
|
|
Margie Tobey steadies Doris Duncan as she plays tennis with Paul Canady as part of her therapy in the Joy-fuller Rehabilitation Center at Winter Haven Hospital.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
|
In February this year, the hospital was awarded the highest achievable recognition from the American Stroke Association's Get With the Guidelines Program - the Gold Plus Award. In addition, the Winter Haven Hospital Stroke Center has been recognized by the American Stroke Association in the U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital edition every year since 2007.
The well-organized protocol begins with public education. From there, a Joint Commission-certified advanced stroke center partners with every aspect of care for the stroke patient. Paramedics start the stroke assessment and notify the hospital of an incoming stroke patient. Stroke patients are admitted to a comprehensive neurological unit, where the staff is trained in stroke care. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapies are available in Winter Haven Hospital's in-patient Joy-Fuller Rehabilitation Center. In addition, the hospital offers outpatient rehabilitation services and stroke support groups.
"Research is showing that disabilities of stroke patients can be reduced by 30 percent through meeting the standards (issued by the American Stroke Association), getting the patient to the emergency room within two hours of the start of their symptoms, and community education so the families know to get them to the hospital," Sekura says.
|
|
Raquel Oliveira, a physical therapist, helps Doris Duncan through an obstacle course in the Joy-Fuller Rehabilitation Center at Winter Haven Hospital.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
|
When the well-orchestrated protocol is practiced, stroke survival and recovery increases exponentially.
"There is nothing like seeing a patient with your own eyes respond to treatment, to regain movement where they couldn't before, and have use of their arms and legs that a few minutes (earlier) they couldn't move," says Bobbie Cox, a registered nurse and assistant manager of the Winter Haven Hospital Stroke Center.
Although Betty Banks remembers nothing of the stroke she suffered, she knows she recovered from a potentially deadly disaster due to the experience of her husband and to the commitment of a well-organized stroke center.
Quickly identifying stroke signs provides the best recovery chances for stroke victims
The symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly, and the best way to combat them is to be prepared and know the signs of a stroke. If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay. Immediately call 911 or the emergency medical service (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent for you.
|
|
Raquel Oliveira, left, and Margie Tobey, right, with the help of Kim Wisler, a hospital staff member, demonstrate a machine that helps support a patient's body weight during therapy on a treadmill in the Joy-Fuller Rehabilitation Center at Winter Haven Hospital. The equipment originally developed for spinal injury patients also has proven effective for stroke patients.
Paul Crate / News Chief |
|
If you're with someone who might be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 911 or EMS. Expect the person to protest - denial is common. Don't take no for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.
The signs of a stroke are:
• 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 seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Ways to be prepared for an emergency include:
• Keep a list of emergency rescue service numbers next to the telephone and in your pocket, wallet or purse.
• Find out which area hospitals are primary stroke centers that have 24-hour emergency stroke care.
• Know (in advance) which hospital or medical facility is nearest your home or office.
• Take action in an emergency.
• Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!
• Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start?
Information provided by the American Stroke Association
