July 15, 2010

Munson Medical Center Recognized for Stroke Care
Hospital records highest number of patients treated with clot-busting medication

Munson Medical Center recently was recognized for outstanding achievements in emergency stroke care in 2009 as a member of the INSTINCT stroke study.

The hospital was one of 24 randomly selected Michigan hospitals participating in the INSTINCT (Increasing Stroke Treatment through Interventional Change Tactics) study. The four-year study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, was a clinical trial testing methods to improve stroke treatment. The study ended on Jan.1, 2010. It was led by Phillip Scott, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan.

A key part of the stroke treatment method involves the use of intravenous tPA, a clot-busting medication. It was approved by the FDA in 1996 to reverse the effects of acute ischemic stroke.

"We had the highest number of patients receiving tPA in 2009 with 23," said Kathleen Glaza, R.N., M.S.N., clinical nurse specialist on the hospital's stroke unit. Munson also was recognized for best data performance and received an honorable mention for "fastest stroke tPA treatment time."

Munson's stroke unit cared for more than 400 patients last year and continues to work toward a goal of increasing the number of patients who receive clot-busting medication, Glaza said. The goal is for the patient to have the medication within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital.

INSTINCT study efforts were led by A7 Stroke Unit Co-Medical Director Kenneth Friar, M.D., S.F.H.M., and Glaza. Physicians and staff from many departments including the emergency department, neurology, radiology, nursing, critical care, administration, medical records, and others have been instrumental in working together to streamline care.

"The team approach between EMS, emergency room nurses, CT technicians, pharmacists, and physicians working with Munson neurologists continues to serve our stroke patients well," Friar said. "We're glad that our participation in the study has helped advance the treatment of stroke patients."

Patients who qualify for a tPA treatment must receive the medication within three hours of the stroke. Determining when the stroke occurred and whether the treatment window remains available sometimes poses challenges, Glaza said.

The acronymn "FAST" when applied to a potential stroke victim gives family and friends the information they need to discern when to call 911 or take the patient to the hospital:
Face - Have the person smile. If half of their smile is crooked, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Arms - Have the person hold out their arms. If one drops or if the person cannot raise one arm, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Speech - Have the person repeat a phrase with you. If their speech is slurred or garbled seek treatment immediately.
Time - Remember a stroke victim has three hours from the onset of the stroke for tPA to be effective.

Contact:  Meghan Daigh
or Dale Killingbeck
Munson Healthcare
Corporate Communications
(231) 935-3394
news@mhc.net