Need stroke help? If you’re living or vacationing in the mid coast area of Maine, getting help after a stroke has gotten easier. Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick is now an Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.
The Joint Commission, working with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, has recognized Mid Coast with the special certification. The certification means that the hospital provides the best stroke help and care a community hospital can offer its patients. MidCoast is one of only four hospitals in Maine that has this status.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the number one cause of long term disability in the United States. Survival and successful recovery from a stroke improves if symptoms are recognized quickly and immediate medical attention is given. The sooner a stroke patient receives treatment, the more likely they will avoid long-term damage.
According to the American Stroke Association, preventable risk factors for stroke include being overweight or obese and having high blood pressure. Smoking and having other health conditions like diabetes, carotid artery disease, or high cholesterol are also risk factors. To reduce your risk, stop smoking, improve your diet, increase physically activity and visit your doctor regularly. For resources to help, visit http://www.midcoasthealth.com/healthline.
Mid Coast Hospital went through a thorough on-site evaluation, including eight standard performance measures and an in-depth review of staff. They earned the advanced primary stroke center certification in July.
Among the hospital’s new services for stroke patients is the “telestroke” system that serves to augment the availability of a staff neurologist, providing immediate off-site evaluation when needed. This program is offered through a joint partnership with Maine Medical Center, another of Maine’s Primary Stroke Centers.
The Mid Coast team includes four on-staff neurologists that treat a full range of neurological conditions. Dr. John Taylor heads the stroke program which is now capable of delivering the most advanced level of care for stroke help.