Meritus Medical Center has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) since 2007. The designation means that EMS will bring patients who are within a 30-minute drive and who have stroke symptoms to Meritus Medical Center rather than taking them to a closer, non-certified health care hospital.
Each year, more than 600 patients arrive in Meritus Medical Center's emergency department with signs and symptoms of stroke. Because "time is brain," stroke patients require rapid assessment, immediate intervention, and careful management involving physicians, nurses, laboratory, radiology technicians and rehabilitation therapists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of a stroke?
When it comes to spotting stroke and getting help, the faster, the better. Prompt treatment may make the difference between life and death or the difference between a full recovery or long-term disability. That is why it is so important to learn the warning signs, B.E. F.A.S.T. is how we can come together to end stroke.
Spot a stroke, learn the warning signs and act fast:
B – Balance: Loss of balance, headache or dizziness
E – Eyes: Blurred vision
F – Face: One side of the face is drooping
A – Arms: Arm or leg weakness
S – Speech: Speech difficulty
T – Time: Time to call for ambulance immediately
Visit the American Stroke Association website at Stroke.org to learn more.
How do you know if you are having a stroke?
Recognizing Stroke Symptoms
A Stroke occurs when a blockage (blood clot) or burst blood vessel (hemorrhage) interrupts blood flow to the brain. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die because they lack oxygen and nutrients. People that experience stroke symptoms need to get to the hospital immediately by EMS transport to be evaluated and treated. The clot-busting medication is called Alteplase, and is a form of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is appropriate for some ischemic stroke patients, but must be given within three hours from stroke symptoms onset.
Many people don't recognize stroke symptoms. Others fail to take the symptoms seriously or seek medical attention promptly. Sudden onset is a telltale sign of stroke. Call 911 right away if you or someone you know suddenly experiences:
- 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
Brief periods of stroke-like symptoms that may resolve quickly are characteristic of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or "mini-stroke." TIA can be an early warning sign of impending stroke, and should not be ignored. TIA is an emergency; call 911 immediately and get to the hospital, even if the stroke-like symptoms go away.
Who provides care to stroke patients?
At Meritus Medical Center stroke patients receive care from the following team members:
- EMS personnel assess and provide emergent care to possible stroke victims and transport patients to the emergency department.
- Emergency Room Physicians complete in-depth neurological examination and work with a neurologist to determine if a patient is appropriate for tPA.
- Neurologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders in the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord.
- Vascular neurologists study, evaluate and treat conditions affecting the structure and function of the blood vessels supplying the brain and nervous system.
- Nurses assist with physical and neurological assessments, administer medications and treatments, monitor the patient's condition, educate patients and families and help coordinate specialized care 24 hours a day.
- Rehabilitation therapists include physical, occupational, and speech therapists who help patients reach their highest level of functionality in the areas of swallowing, talking, walking and self-care activities.
- Dietitians provide nutrition assessment and education to stroke patients and their families.
- Pharmacists review medication orders and make recommendations to the patient's physician.
- Care Managers are nurses and social workers who coordinate hospital care and assist with discharge and aftercare planning. Care managers provide information about outpatient rehabilitation services and community support agencies to patients and their families.
- Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in rehabilitation medicine and oversee medical care in the hospital's rehabilitation unit.
What types of strokes are treated at Meritus Medical Center?
Meritus Medical Center's Stroke Center provides comprehensive care and treatment for the following conditions:
- Ischemic Stroke
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIA)
The hospital's stroke team evaluates stroke patients in the emergency department where rapid diagnostic testing includes CT (computed tomography) scans and lab tests. Meritus Medical Center partners with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to provide patients suffering from acute stroke with immediate and expert care provided by Board-Certified Neurologists through stroke telemedicine.
Stroke Smart State - Resources for patients
Click for links to specials resources from the Maryland Stroke Center Consortium (MSCC)