Stroke Care
Merit Health River Oaks is the first and only Primary Stroke Center in Rankin County, earning The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association's Heart-Check Mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification.
When a patient comes to Merit Health River Oaks with stroke symptoms, the team is trained to diagnose quickly in order to begin treatment to minimize the effects of a stroke.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Every four minutes, someone dies from a stroke.
Stroke, also called brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Disruption in blood flow is caused when either a blood clot blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke), or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues (hemorrhagic stroke).
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 Designated Primary Stroke Center team at Merit Health River Oaks 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. A 64-slice CT scanner provides the necessary speed and resolution required for rapid imaging of blood vessels in the brain, so doctors can begin treatment as quickly as possible.
Stroke Symptoms
Symptoms can vary, depending on the type of stroke and its severity. Strokes usually happen suddenly, but it may take hours to notice symptoms. Mild weakness may become paralysis on one side of the body. Small strokes over time may lead to balance, thinking and behavioral changes.
Brain damage can start within minutes of a stroke. Recognizing symptoms and calling 911 immediately may mean:
- The difference between short-term and permanent disability
- Less chance of brain damage
- Greater chance for a full recovery
Rehabilitation
It's important to begin rehabilitation as soon as possible after a stroke. Rehabilitation helps patients regain body functions, learn skills needed to resume daily activities and cope with disabilities and potential depression. Physical therapists help patients regain functional mobility to maximize their independence, while occupational therapists help patients improve cognitive function to better perform everyday activities such as dressing and eating. Speech therapists work with patients to overcome speech and language impairments caused by a stroke.
Following a stroke, rehabilitation care is there to help individuals regain their independence. The multidisciplinary rehabilitation team at Merit Health River Oaks provides caring, personalized assistance to help patients meet their goals.