H E A L T H
IN AN EMERGENCY South Texas Health Systems Neuroscience & Stroke Institute Bring Stroke Awareness to the Community
have been certified as Acute Stroke Ready facilities by The Joint Commission. These freestanding facilities are capable of stabilizing patients having a stroke and transferring them for treatment to STHS’ Comprehensive Stroke Center at STHS McAllen. “STHS McAllen is a DNV-GL Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center designated Level 1 Facility,” said BSN, RN SCRN, STHS Stroke Program Manager, Alejandra Ayala. “This means our facility meets the standardized stroke guidelines set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition, American Heart Association, and American Stroke Association.” The comprehensive stroke center offers a range of treatments and care for stroke patients, including emergency treatment, diagnosis, and managing stroke complications. This center
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Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and according to the National Institutes of Health, there are approximately 795,000 stroke events in the U.S. each year. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, this leads to brain damage and sometimes death. In the event of a stroke, it is a matter of seconds that can make a difference between life and death. According to the CDC, in one second, 32,000 brain cells can die, and in one minute, a stroke can kill up to 1.9 million brain cells. Identifying the symptoms and acting fast by calling 911 is important. The Rio Grande Valley can count on South Texas Health Systems to handle stroke cases. Patients can visit STHS’ 10 emergency rooms, including its six freestanding emergency departments that
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