Stroke

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability, yet the American Stroke Association estimates fewer than one in five people in the U.S. can recognize a symptom of a stroke. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

As a Certified Primary Stroke Center, Bert Fish Medical Center is ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with our rapid response stroke team. We utilize state-of-the-art equipment to immediately evaluate and diagnose stroke patients. And we begin treatment quickly – saving precious time and, therefore, brain.

We take a patient-centered approach to stroke detection and management, from the emergency department through rehabilitation. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and other specialists work with patients and their families to design a plan of recovery tailored to each patient’s personal goals.

Bert Fish Medical Center is doing our part to improve awareness and treatment of stroke in our local community through various education and outreach events. We offer a Stroke Survivors Support Group, which covers all topics related to stroke. The group meets the first Thursday of every month from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. For more information, please call David Wall at (386) 424-5293.

Bert Fish Medical Center is the proud recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award.

Know Stroke Warning Signs

Stroke strikes FAST and you should, too! Many people don’t know that being able to recognize and respond to stroke symptoms can possibly save lives. Stroke should be treated as an emergency because there is a treatment that can be given within the first three hours after symptoms start.  Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember to think FAST. Use FAST to remember warning signs:

F= Face            Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A=Arms           Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S= Speech        Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T=Time            If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Learn more about stroke awareness at www.stroke.org/awareness