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Within REACH
“TIME IS BRAIN” Pam Flinchum, BS, RT(R)(CT), RN, SCRN RN Stroke Specialist ***************************** When a person is having a stroke, getting treatment fast is critical because it can save brain tissue from permanent damage. 1.9 million neurons or 1.8 quality days of life are lost per minute. About 80-85% of strokes are ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain that leaves the surrounding tissue starved of blood. Restoring blood flow to the brain as soon as possible is crucial to give a person their best chance at a full recovery, like being able to walk and talk again. The national standard, set by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recommends patients receive the clot-busting medication, called alteplase or TNK, in less than 60 minutes. Our team: Dr. Paul Haskins ED Physician, Dr. Jamison Zink ED resident Physician, Alexis Gliniecki ED RN, Kelly McAllister ED Pharmacy, Amanda Wilkes CT, Dr. David Keyes Radiologist, Dr. Nicholas Yelverton Neurology, and Dr. Narmada Mannem resident Neurology performed this in 22 minutes! This is our new record at CMC. Thank you for the teamwork and for striving to deliver the best patient care and outcome! ~ Pam
