Mercy Stroke Center
The Mercy Stroke Center – available 24 hours a day, seven days a week – is nationally recognized for excellence in stroke care to provide the best treatment options for people experiencing a stroke.
Stroke Center Certification
The Mercy Stroke Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers. MMCR earned this distinction after the Joint Commission conducted an unannounced on-site review of the facility.
The Joint Commissions’ Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements/guidelines for stroke care.
Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award
The Mercy Stroke Center has also received the Amercian Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Plus Performance Award. The award recognizes Mercy Medical Center Redding’s (MMCR) commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence–based guidelines.
To receive the award, MMCR achieved 85% or higher adherence to all Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Performance Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75% or higher compliance with six of the 10 Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.
We Made the Honor Roll!
The Mercy Stroke Center has been recognized as recipient of the Amercian Heart/Amercian Stroke Association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll for improving stroke care. This means over the past quarter, at least 50 percent of eligible ischemic stroke patients have received IV rt-PA within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital (known as ‘door-to-needle’ time).
To learn more and to see where Mercy ranks click on the link below.
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/Professionals/Target-Stroke-Honor-Roll-Sites_UCM_318484_Article.jsp
What is Stroke and How Do You Know if You’re at Risk?
A stroke is a medical emergency, just like a heart attack, and medical help is needed right away. A stroke occurs when there is a lack of oxygen to the brain. This is usually caused by the sudden loss of blood flow to the brain which can be the result of a blood vessel being clogged by plaque, blood clots or when an artery in the brain ruptures and bleeds. This leads to death of brain cells and the parts of the body they control are then impaired.
Strokes usually give warnings. It is important to know the warning signs of a stroke and seek medical attention immediately at a hospital with a stroke center. Prompt medical attention may prevent a serious stroke and prevent injury to the brain.
Real Patients, Real Stories: Click here to read a true stroke survivor’s story
What are the Warning Signs of Stroke?
• Sudden numbness and tingling or weakness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body
• Sudden loss of speech, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden vision problems
• Sudden unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the other symptoms
• Sudden severe headache with no apparent cause, described as the ‘worst headache’ of my life. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, call 911 and say you are having a stroke. Seek appropriate medical attention immediately at a hospital with a stroke center.
Know the Signs of Stroke and Act F.A.S.T. Click here to download a printable pdf to help you recognize the signs of stroke.
What You Need to Know
1. Excessive Weight
Individuals who are more than 20 pounds overweight or 10% over their ideal weight are as much as 10 times more likely to develop diabetes, more likely to develop high blood pressure and several times more likely to have a stroke than those who are not overweight. To lower your risk, discuss with your health care provider the best weight for you, given your age and health. Work together to develop a diet and exercise plan that meets your needs.
2. Age
The risk of stroke increases steadily with age and increases significantly after age 50.
3. Family History
Individuals with a family history of stroke have a greater risk of having a stroke.
4. Race
African-Americans have nearly twice as many strokes as Caucasians. Some studies show that individuals of Hispanic descent have an increased risk of hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding type).
5. Gender
Stroke is more common in men. However, more women die from stroke than men.
What Increases my Risk?
1. Cigarette Smoking
Nicotine increases the risk of stroke, so smoking is an especially strong factor for disease of the carotid and coronary arteries.
To lower your risk, reduce or stop smoking. Even long term smokers can reduce their risk of stroke by quitting. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
Mercy Medical Center Redding offers Quit…for Good, a free 8-session program to quit all types of tobacco. For more information call
(530) 24-MERCY (246-3729)
.
2. Diabetes
The high blood sugar caused by diabetes contributes to atherosclerosis and increases the risk of stroke. To lower your risk, follow your health care provider’s advice if you have diabetes. Close control of blood sugar is an important and effective way to reduce the risk of stroke. Keep your diabetes under control by proper diet, medication as ordered, and exercise.
3. Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol intake or binge drinking triples the risk of stroke. To lower your risk, limit alcohol consumption.
4. High Blood Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is a fatty substance, manufactured by the liver and obtained from food. It is deposited in the walls of arteries where it reduces blood flow by causing plaque. Laboratory blood tests determine levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is the “bad” cholesterol, and the lower the better. HDL is the “good” cholesterol, and the higher the better. An imbalance between HDL and LDL doubles your risk of stroke.
To lower your risk, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and increase your physical activity. Reduce your intake of red meat, dairy products, and eggs. Consult your physician about medication that may substantially help lower cholesterol levels.
You can prevent or reduce damage from stroke by:
• Knowing and reducing your risk factors
• Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke
• Receiving prompt appropriate medical treatment at the first sign of stroke symptoms
If you believe you or someone you know is having a stroke call 911 immediatley. To reach a Stroke Coordinator at Mercy Medical Center Redding call
(530) 225-7365
.
Mercy Stroke Center Partners with Mercy Telehealth Network
Mercy Medical Center Redding’s (MMCR) Stroke Center has partnered with the Mercy Telehealth Network. The Mercy Telehealth Network is a regional network established with other Dignity Health Hospitals providing stroke care in California to optimize response to acute stroke emergencies, improve outcomes and reduce the devastating effects of stroke.
The Mercy Network is a nationally recognized leader in stroke care, providing integrated services in stroke diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. The Network is supported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a panel of highly trained physicians. These dedicated professionals connect their knowledge via telemedicine using a special monitor called the RP-lite with physicians who have priviledges at MMCR and patient care teams to optimize diagnosis and treatment for the most complex patient cases.
The only FDA-approved mobile unit equipped with a camera, microphone and monitor is located at MMCR. When activated and wirelessly connected to the internet, the mobile unit provides secure, direct access to a Mercy Telehealth specialist. The unit can move, allowing the doctor to freely interact with the hospital staff, patients and family members in real time. The Mercy Telehealth Network encourages local management of patients. It allows partner hospitals to treat acute care patients in their own Emergency Department and minimize the number of patient transfers to other hospitals.
In a typical telehealth session:
• The attending physician reviews the patient’s status, determining the need for additional evaluation
• The RP-lite mobile unit is moved to the patient’s bedside
• If it is determined there is a need for further evaluation, the attending physician or stroke coordinator and patient speak directly to a Mercy Telehealth specialist
• The Mercy telehealth specialist and the attending physician or stroke coordinator confer to determine the best treatment plan for the patient
Our Team
Mercy Medical Center Redding’s Stroke Team is led by Richard Karem, M.D., Medical Director of Mercy’s Stroke Center.
Our team includes:
• Board-Certified Physicians
• Neurologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Critical Care Physicians
• Stroke Coordinators – Registered Nurses certified by the Amercian Board on Neuroscience Nurses as well as the National Institute of Health Stroke Screening
• Speech and Swallow Therapists
• Physical and Occupational Therapists
• Registered Dietitians
• Clinical Case Managers
