Manatee Memorial Stroke Program
Takes Top Honors at National Conference

The Stroke Team with its Get With The Guidelines^SM (GWTG) Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association.

When a stroke strikes, there's no time to lose -- getting help quickly from a healthcare team with the expertise and tools to diagnose and treat stroke can make all the difference in survival and recovery. At Manatee Memorial Hospital, we've created a stroke treatment program that uses national guidelines and recommendations set by the American Stroke Association (ASA) as its cornerstone.

Ongoing Awards Recognize Efforts
The ASA has recognized our stroke program numerous times, most recently with the Get With The Guidelines^SM (GWTG) Gold Performance Achievement Award at the 2008 International Stroke Conference in New Orleans. Manatee Memorial was one of only 35 hospitals in the U.S. to win this award -- and one of only three in the state of Florida.

To receive the GWTG Gold Performance Achievement Award, Manatee Memorial demonstrated 85% adherence with the GWTG key measures for 24 consecutive months. The key measures include aggressive and timely administration of medications that can break up blood clots and restore circulation to the brain and the development of educational programs to help patients manage risk factors.

This is the third time that the stroke program has achieved national recognition. In 2007, Manatee Memorial was one of only 31 hospitals to win the ASA's Silver Performance Achievement Award, recognizing excellent performance during a 12-month period. In 2006, the program won the Bronze Performance Achievement Award, recognizing excellent performance during a 90-day period.

"The Gold Award acknowledges our commitment to providing quality stroke care over time," says Ralph Gonzalez, MD, a neurologist who helped implement the stroke program. "It proves that our commitment is just as strong as it was when the program started. It's not just the stroke team that is dedicated to this program -- everyone involved in patient care, from the lab technicians who perform the initial blood work to the nursing assistants who transport patients around the hospital -- is focused on making sure we get the best possible outcomes."

Making Every Second Count
According to the ASA, each year approximately 780,000 people suffer a stroke -- 600,000 are first attacks and 180,000 are recurrent. Of stroke survivors 49 and older, 21% of men and 24% of women die within a year.

For those 70 and older, the percentages are even higher. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S.

There are two major types of stroke:

• Ischemic strokes are caused by blocked blood flow and oxygen to the brain and account for nearly 88% of all strokes, according to the ASA. Tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, is effective in treating these strokes, but it must be administered within a three-hour window of the onset of symptoms to work best.
• Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding into or around the brain and account for about 12% of strokes. These strokes may be treated with medications that control further bleeding, control high blood pressure and reduce brain swelling. Surgery also can be used to seal off or repair bleeding vessels.

When a patient with stroke symptoms enters our doors, Manatee Memorial's "stroke team" comprised of emergency room physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, nurses and technicians is trained to immediately swing into action. Within minutes, they can perform a physical evaluation, brain imaging scans and blood tests to conclusively diagnose stroke and begin treatment.

After initial treatment, patients are housed in a dedicated stroke unit staffed by nurses who are trained to care for stroke patients as well as educate them and their families. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors during their hospital stay reduce their risk of a second stroke. The Stroke Unit nurses provide patients and their families with customized education materials, based on individual risk profiles, written in easy-to-understand formats in English and Spanish.

The Stroke Unit has a rehabilitation gym where patients can start therapy while they are hospitalized. Manatee Memorial also offers outpatient stroke rehabilitation services at The Physical Medicine Clinic, located in the hospital, and The Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center, in East Manatee County. Both facilities are staffed with physical, occupational and speech therapists who work with patients to help them regain lost skills and restore independence.

Be Ready to Act
For stroke treatment to be effective, patients must recognize the signs of stroke and seek prompt medical attention. The Manatee Memorial stroke team has treated many patients who experienced classic symptoms but decided to wait, or even sleep them off, rather than go to the hospital immediately. The stroke team cares for almost 500 patients each year.

According to the ASA, the five typical signs of stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 or get to the ER immediately. Remember the adage that "time lost is brain lost," and the sooner you get to the hospital, the better your chances of making a full recovery.

Ralph Gonzalez, MD
Bradenton Neurology, Inc.
3930 8th Ave. W
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-746-3115

206 Second Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208 941-746-5111 FAX: 941-745-6862