The Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center has one of the highest volume of stroke patients in Los Angeles County.
As a Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, Long Beach Medical Center has specialists available 24/7 for immediate care, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up rehabilitation for all types of strokes. It also offers highly trained medical experts and leading-edge technologies that are setting a new standard of care for stroke patients. All together, this makes the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Long Beach Medical Center a preferred location for emergency medical services to take patients to when they are experiencing a stroke. Long Beach Medical Center treats more than 900 stroke patients each year.
The Comprehensive Stroke Center at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center also has a dedicated treatment room within its Emergency Department equipped with advanced telemedicine technology that allows neurologists to assess patients quickly and communicate with on-site staff from anywhere, 24/7.
A stroke is a frightening medical emergency, and while several area hospitals are equipped to deal with some aspects of it, MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center offers the highest level of care and expertise in treating strokes.
The most common type of stroke is ischemic, which is caused by a clot that blocks an artery from supplying blood to the brain. It can occur in the larger arteries of the brain or in smaller, deeper vessels. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel breaks and bleeds in or around the brain.
Time is everything when someone is experiencing a stroke. The brain can lose two million neurons each minute from a stroke, resulting in various signs of a stroke. If you suspect someone is experiencing a stroke, remember B.E. F.A.S.T.
B: Balance – sudden loss of balance and coordination
E: Eyes – sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision
F: Face drooping – face drooping on one side or numbness
A: Arm or leg weakness – numbness especially on one side of the body
S: Speech difficulty – sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech.
T: Time – stroke is a medical emergency, call 911 immediately and note the time of the first symptom.
You can also tell EMS you think you are having a stroke and note the time the symptoms started. Survivors have the best outcomes if they get to the hospital as soon as possible. Getting the right treatment at the right time can mean these losses may be decreased or even reversed.
If a stroke does strike, don’t delay, and call 911 immediately. The longer you wait to treat a stroke, the more damage that is done – so acting fast is critical when a stroke hits.
To learn more visit, memorialcare.org/LBStroke.