Friday, April 27, 2018
Stroke patients count on Marshfield's rapid response
Every minute is critical to minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Marshfield Medical Center is the leading stroke treatment center in central Wisconsin and offers resources that can help patients, and even other physicians, throughout northern Wisconsin.
Timing is everything
When a person begins showing signs of a stroke such as balance and visions issues, face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty, it's time for immediate action. Marshfield works closely with first responders and referring hospitals throughout central and northern Wisconsin. As soon as a responder begins treating a patient with a possible stroke, they notify us and we immediately prepare for rapid-response treatment.
Because time is of the utmost importance, a Marshfield Clinic stroke neurologist is on-call at the hospital 24/7.
"A stroke patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute stroke treatment is delayed," said Dr. Vivekananda Gonugunta, one of only a few highly-skilled endovascular neurosurgeons in the country. "Having specialists ready at Marshfield Medical Center when patients arrive demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely."
Expert care is here
Stroke is a complex medical issue that can cause a vast array of health issues. Our highly-specialized services allow us to care for you or a loved one, including:
- Advanced brain imaging and diagnostic testing.
- Critical and acute care units specifically for stroke patients.
- 24-hour helicopter access, via Life Link III.
- Advanced treatments in removal of clots or coiling of aneurysms.
- Dedicated stroke care team providers.
- Specialized stroke rehabilitation unit.
Our stroke care is recognized nationally. Marshfield has been a Certified Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission since 2009. The onsite acute care rehabilitation unit has stroke specialty certification through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. We even have a pediatric neurologist available because strokes can occur in people of all ages.
Telestroke
Although our hospital in Marshfield is the hub of operations for Marshfield Clinic's health care, we now have a direct line of contact to provide stroke care in our more rural communities. Using the latest tele-technology, telestroke carts are available in emergency departments at Flambeau Hospital in Park Falls, Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake and Marshfield Medical Center-Eau Claire.
A Marshfield neurologist will work with an emergency room physician alongside the patient to make the best health care and treatment decisions. As Marshfield Clinic Health System expands inpatient care at hospitals, this provides access to quality care where our patients need it, meaning lower cost and connection between hospitals.
"This is a way to help a rural hospital and quickly get treatment to that patient," said Chris Meyer, Virtual Health director. "Our experts at in Marshfield can diagnose the patient remotely through the use of telestroke and very quickly get them on the way to where they need to go."