STHS - Comprehensive Stroke Care in the RGV

COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CARE

in the Rio Grande Valley

With five certified facilities providing emergency stroke care, the South Texas Health System Neurosciences & Stroke Institute is the largest stroke care network in the Valley and everywhere you need them to be.

Understanding Stroke the Signs and Symptoms

A stroke happens when an artery that carries blood to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel ruptures, causing brain tissue to die as it is deprived of its vital blood supply.

Unfortunately, strokes are an all-too-common occurrence. In fact, according to the National Stroke Association, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds on average. In addition, strokes account for about one out of every nineteen deaths in this country. Because every minute matters when someone is having a stroke, it’s important to become familiar with stroke symptoms. These can include: • Numbness • Confusion • Trouble seeing • Trouble walking • Severe headache

When a Stroke Strikes, Every Second Counts

While you should call 911 at the first sign of possible stroke symptoms, it’s good to know that quality stroke care is close at hand for residents of the Rio Grande Valley – thanks to the South Texas Health System Neurosciences & Stroke Institute.

With five certified facilities providing emergency stroke care, South Texas Health System is the largest stroke care network in the Valley.

South Texas Health System McAllen has received a Comprehensive Stroke Center designation from DNV and a Comprehensive (Level I) Stroke Facility designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

South Texas Health System Edinburg and South Texas Health System Heart have been designated as Primary (Level II) Stroke Facilities by the state and each has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.

South Texas Health System ER Mission and South Texas Health System ER Weslaco have each earned an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification by The Joint Commission.

South Texas Health System Edinburg and South Texas Health System McAllen have both earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification for Stroke and Cardiac Rehabilitation.

South Texas Health System is one of only four hospitals in Texas to be awarded the Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus award as well as all three target levels (Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll).

This is the highest level of achievement a stroke center can receive from the AHA/ASA.

In addition to providing comprehensive stroke care, South Texas Health System also offers rehabilitation services to help those who have had a stroke get back to the life they love.

To learn more about the stroke program at South Texas Health System, visit southtexashealthsystem.com/strokecare.

This “F.A.S.T.” acronym is a helpful way to remember some of the most common symptoms of a possible stroke.

F = Face Drooping

Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

A = Arm Weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech Difficulty

Is speech slurred? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

T – Time to call 911