Aug. 22, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate, lifesaving, brain-saving care.

Getting the right treatment in a timely way is vital in the case of stroke symptoms. Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center recently received certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, reflecting the highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events.

Through certification awarded by DNV GL Healthcare, Avera McKennan is the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in South Dakota and the wider region and one of only 306 Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the United States.

The DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association and affirms that Avera McKennan addresses the full spectrum of stroke care — diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education — and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.

A Comprehensive Stroke Center is a facility that has the personnel, infrastructure and expertise to diagnose and treat stroke patients who require intensive medical and surgical care, specialized tests or interventional therapies. A Comprehensive Stroke Center delivers the highest quality of care to the most complex cases.

Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is stopped in some way, for example, a clot in an artery or a ruptured artery. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.

Strokes can happen at any age. Recognizing the signs of a stroke and taking action can save a life. If any of the symptoms below occur, seek help immediately by calling 911 or your local Avera emergency department.

If a stroke happens, BE FAST

BE FAST is an easy way to remember and recognize the sudden signs of stroke:

B – Sudden BALANCE loss

E – Sudden EYESIGHT loss

F – FACE drooping

A – ARM weakness

S – SPEECH difficulty

T – TIME to call 911

“This certification means that patients who experience an acute stroke or an acute vascular neurologic event, as well as their loved ones, can have the confidence that Avera McKennan is providing the region with the top level of sophistication and care for all forms of acute stroke management,” said Dr. William Rossing, Avera Medical Group neurologist and stroke specialist.

In the case of stroke symptoms, the first step is often arrival in the emergency department where timely CT imaging takes place to diagnose what type of stroke happened in the brain and where. Those crucial images then direct timely treatment for lesser long-term effects to the brain.

Brain-saving treatment for stroke

Treatment may involve drug therapy such as tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, known as clot busters, or tenecteplase.

If indicated, Avera offers interventional neuroendovascular procedures that allow for a minimally invasive approach to neurovascular conditions, including stroke. Via microcatheters, tiny equipment is navigated through blood vessels via an incision in the wrist or groin. At the site of the stroke, instruments are used to open an occluded critical vessel, repair an abnormality or retrieve the clot.

Avera offers a specialized neuro unit for stroke recovery as well as inpatient rehabilitation, where a wide range of therapies are used to restore mobility, balance and cognitive function. Avera McKennan opened its state-of-the-art rehab unit on the fifth floor of the Prairie Center in 2018.

Preventing strokes

Like many serious conditions, prevention is the best cure, and experts estimate 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

“If we can recognize and treat risk factors, we can help more people avoid strokes,” Rossing said. Risk factors that may increase your chance of experiencing a stroke include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Obesity and lack of exercise
• Smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol

To help prevent a stroke, work with your primary care physician to make sure any chronic conditions you have are under control, whether that’s diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol. Make lifestyle changes that help you to lose weight and get more activity, and avoid smoking or excessive alcohol use.

Learn more here.