Union Hospital again earns stroke certification

July 13--Union Hospital has been nationally re-certified for treatment of stroke patients.

Initially certified in 2009, it has again received primary stroke certification by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, an independent group recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"Certification confirms that Union Hospital, the only primary stroke center in the Wabash Valley, is providing high quality care as determined by an independent, external evaluation process," according to a Union Hospital news release.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability, according to the National Stroke Association. A stroke happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off; brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. A stroke can cause a person to permanently lose speech, movement and memory.

Each year about 185,000 people die from a stroke, according to the association.

For Union Hospital patients, the national certification "ensures you are going to get the best in stroke care. We have special training for our staff and certain processes in place" to ensure stroke patients are treated "very quickly. And with a stroke, time is of the essence," said Beth Harrison, Union nursing care manager and stroke coordinator.

For certain types of stroke patients, medication to dissolve a blood clot in the brain will be administered within 45 minutes, she said. Also, if someone is identified as having stroke symptoms, an alert is sent to the emergency room staff so the medical team responds immediately.

The hospital treats about 400 to 600 patients a year for strokes.

A quick response is important because with a stroke, the brain is not getting enough oxygen. The more time the brain goes without oxygen, the greater the chances brain tissue will die, which can affect speech, movement and cognitive abilities, she said.

"A stroke can affect you in multiple ways," Harrison said.

The hospital has a designated stroke team, with staff trained in all phases of care -- from the time a patient enters the hospital to the time the patient leaves, she said.

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