About
In less time than it will take to read this Web page, someone in the United States will have a stroke - a "brain attack" in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to lose function and die. On average, a stroke occurs about every 45 seconds. According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the nation.
The best weapons for withstanding a stroke, include:
- Foreknowledge
- Preparedness
- Fast action
A stroke must be treated with the same urgency as a heart attack. Brain tissue is literally starving for oxygen after a stroke, so every minute counts. If treated within the first three hours, the effects of stroke can potentially be minimized and even reversed. That is why the Norton Stroke Care team focuses on quick, accurate diagnosis, early intervention and emergency service.
Norton Stroke Care treatment is coordinated from the moment of first contact. We work closely with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel, who identify potential stroke victims and begin early intervention while enroute to the hospital. When a stroke patient arrives at a Norton Healthcare hospital, our stroke care specialists act swiftly to stabilize vital signs, pinpoint the precise site of blood-flow interruption and, if appropriate, administer highly specialized clot-dissolving drugs - drugs that must be given within the first three hours of stroke onset to reduce brain damage.
Because of our immediate action and aggressive intervention, patients have a greater chance of improving their outcome by minimizing the devastating effects of the stroke.
Detection and Treatment
A stroke must be treated with the same urgency as a heart attack. Brain tissue is literally starving for oxygen after a stroke, so every minute counts. If treated within the first three hours, the effects of stroke can potentially be minimized and even reversed. That is why the Norton Stroke Care team focuses on quick, accurate diagnosis, early intervention and emergency service.
Norton Stroke Care treatment is coordinated from the moment of first contact. We work closely with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel, who identify potential stroke victims and begin early intervention while enroute to the hospital. When a stroke patient arrives at a Norton Healthcare hospital, our stroke care specialists act swiftly to stabilize vital signs, pinpoint the precise site of blood-flow interruption and, if appropriate, administer highly specialized clot-dissolving drugs - drugs that must be given within the first three hours of stroke onset to reduce brain damage.
Because of our immediate action and aggressive intervention, patients have a greater chance of improving their outcome by minimizing the devastating effects of the stroke.
Life After Stroke
After receiving acute stroke care, patients are generally admitted to the intensive care unit under close monitoring and supervision by nurses and physicians for continued observation, treatment and rehabilitation. In addition to the diagnostic and therapeutic services offered by Norton Stroke Care, patients have access to a full spectrum of allied care services from an interdisciplinary team of health professionals. This team includes social workers who help the patient and family adjust to this life-altering event, chaplains who offer spiritual support, dietitians for nutritional guidance and rehabilitation specialists who work with the patient from day one to minimize disability and maximize quality of life.
Thanks to the tremendous advances in stroke treatment, coupled with the ever-increasing sophistication of rehabilitation techniques, the outlook for stroke patients has never been more promising. With Norton Stroke Care, patients have access to comprehensive rehab services tailored to each individual with the ultimate goal of returning the patient to as independent a lifestyle as possible. To regain function and achieve an optimal outcome, this may involve working with:
- Physical
- Occupational
- Speech/swallowing therapists
Even after the patient leaves the hospital, we work closely with rehab services throughout the Louisville metro area so that patients can receive convenient, quality rehab care while being monitored by our Stroke Care team.
