St. John Stroke Center embraces teamwork
When you first hear the name St. John Stroke Center, a single clinic designed to prevent and treat strokes probably comes to mind.
Don’t let the word “center” fool you.
While much of the energy and activity evolves around the 25-bed unit on the hospital’s ninth floor, the St. John Stroke Center encompasses a variety of departments throughout the medical center. One of the main purposes of the center is to incorporate specialties such as neurology, radiology, surgical and emergency services, all working together to provide a continuum of care to the patient.
“Our process begins as soon as the patient hits the door,” said Dr. Anna Wanahta, medical director of the Stroke Center.
“Overall, the goal is to provide care to the patient from start to finish,” added Lindsay Swindell, a physician assistant of the unit.
Opened in 2007 as a 10-bed unit, the St. John Stroke Center was the first Joint Commission accredited stroke center in Northeastern Oklahoma. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations in the United States, with the accreditation and certification being nationally recognized.
With strokes, time is of the essence. Wanahta said the national standard is to begin providing treatment to the patient within an hour. There is a three-hour window to minimize damage, but the sooner treatment begins, the less damage will typically occur.
To help ensure the patient is treated as quickly as possible, communication typically begins before the individual is loaded into the ambulance. Wanahta said this allows for the numerous teams to begin preparing and assessing the situation as a way to ensure a proper level of care before the patient ever enters the emergency room.
And once the patient is stabilized and ready for transfer to the ninth floor, the wheels on a plan of care are already well in motion.
“As soon as the patient comes onto the unit, the nurses are already working on and updating the plan of care,” said Wanahta.
The unit’s 25 private rooms are staffed by registered nurses who trained to give comprehensive care.
“They go through a vigorous orientation period,” said Justin Cole, RN nurse manager. “One of the benefits is we can reduce the length of stay. The nurses and staff are used to dealing with stroke patients and can pick up on things that may need additional interaction.”
Education can be one of the strongest weapons against strokes, whether it’s as part of the prevention or dealing with the effects following a stroke. That’s why St. John Medical Center education department offers plenty of public seminars on preventing strokes, and the Stroke Center personnel work closely with the patient and family members on dealing with the effects, and preventing future events.
“The good thing -- as well as the bad thing -- about strokes is it is painless,” said Dr. David Gilbert. “You can’t talk or move, but there is no pain. That’s why it’s so important for people to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke.”
Departments
Features
Three Hillcrest Medical Center volunteers were queen for a day last week as the health system recognized the women – all whom are over age 90 and still actively volunteer at the hospital.
Opal Carlton, left, Eleanor Fitch, center, and Estelle Norvell were honored for their continued dedication to Hillcrest.
”It would be difficult for any organization such as Hillcrest to function without a loyal group of volunteers,” said Hillcrest Chaplain Ron Nofziger. “These three ladies are a real inspiration. They keep serving and giving, and are truly engaged in helping others.”
Guest Columnist
Medical care and education in Iraq is slowly but steadily improving. As a population, Iraq is medically underserved with nearly a 100,000 physician need to provide care for its citizens and only approximately 15,000 to 20,000 physicians currently working in Iraq.
Level of care, formal education and training are greatest in the larger urban areas while most of rural Iraq is without sufficient primary, emergency and specialty care or formal educational opportunities. Most of the universities, teaching programs and hospitals are currently working to
rebuild their health system infrastructure and educational capabilities.
Health & Fitness
As the health-care reform debate rages on and gains emotional steam, more and more emphasis is being put on prevention.
Finally.
This message of prevention hit home a couple of months ago as we were going through some things in my parents’ home in Missouri. There, deep in a closet, was a box containing a worn notebook. Although we were all raised in this home, the box was something neither I nor my siblings had ever seen, but were so glad for its discovery.
Contained in the tablet were the thoughts of my maternal grandmother just after being diagnosed with cancer. She titled the message “The Two Greatest Gifts: Love and Good Health.” Through her writing she admits good health was something she had always taken for granted. After all, she was rarely, if ever, sick as a child – a trend that continued well into adulthood.
Shortly after having her sixth child, however, her world would be turned upside down after the diagnosis. The message was penned over numerous pages, apparently during several months, including the time she underwent radiation to battle the cancer.
I never had the opportunity to know my grandmother as she succumbed to cancer when I was less than 2 years old. But the worn memo pad gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation into who she was.
Click below to read "The Two Greatest Gifts; Love and Good Health."
Job Profile
It’s no surprise that the health-care job market is booming. With the aging population and technology changing the way medicine is performed, new health care jobs are constantly popping up. In each issue of the Tulsa Health Care Journal we take a look at some of the jobs out there, some of which are familiar, some not so. Here we look at the respiratory therapist. Helping us gain a better perspective on this growing field is Jill Tollison, director of respiratory therapy for MeadowBrook Specialty Hospital in Tulsa.
Health Files
The Tulsa State Fair wrapped up this weekend with fewer medical incidents being reported than in the past several years.
According to Tina Wells, EMSA vice president of marketing, paramedics responded to fewer medical incidents this year than they projected.
