Stroke Care
When a patient comes to the hospital with stroke symptoms, it’s crucial to make a proper diagnosis quickly in order to begin treatment to minimize the effects of a stroke. The stroke care team at Merit Health Natchez delivers potentially life-saving care for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We strive to provide:
- Speed – Treatments given during the first three hours after a stroke can greatly reduce or even reverse the effects of stroke, so stroke care professionals are ready to jump into action immediately.
- Knowledge – Doctors, nurses, emergency professionals and other specialists meet high educational standards, and are specially trained to identify stroke symptoms and administer treatments.
- Technology – The stroke care team utilizes advanced testing and imaging technology, allowing them to identify the type of stroke within minutes so they are able to begin treatment.
Merit Health Natchez has earned Advanced Disease-Specific Care Certification for Acute Stroke Ready Hospital from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The certification recognizes hospitals equipped to treat stroke patients with timely, evidence-based care prior to transferring them to a Primary or Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Merit Health Natchez underwent a rigorous onsite review to assess its compliance with the Joint Commission’s Advanced Disease-Specific Care certification requirements, including:
- A dedicated stroke-focused program
- Staffing by qualified medical professionals trained in stroke care
- Collaboration with local emergency management agencies
- 24/7 ability to perform rapid diagnostic and laboratory testing
- Ability to administer intravenous clot-busting medications to eligible patients
- Availability of telemedicine technology
When a stroke occurs, remember to act F.A.S.T.
- F: Face - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face drop?
- A: Arms - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does the arm drift downward?
- S: Speech - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T: Time - If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.