When someone is having a stroke there’s no time to waste in seeking immediate medical treatment and having access to the highest-quality stroke care can change the outcome. Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital is proud to be the only hospital in Southwest Georgia designated as a Primary Stroke Center by DNV GL Healthcare.  This certification affirms the hospital’s readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems.
 
“This certification let’s our community know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible stroke care,” says Faryn Hackett, Stroke Coordinator at Phoebe. “Achieving this certification validates all the effort we have put into this program and to ensuring the health and safety of our patients.”
 
According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is a leading cause of death, killing nearly 130,000 people each year, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. Because stroke or “brain attack” affects blood flow to the brain, rapid and effective treatment can save lives and provide the best chance of limiting the extent of long-term damage.
 
Because time is of the essence with stroke care, knowing the warning signs is key. The acronym F.A.S.T. is used to help spot the warning signs of a stroke fast. F.A.S.T. stands for:

·         Face Dropping

·         Arm Weakness

·         Speech Difficulty

·         Time to call 9-1-1
 
Clot-busting drugs and medical devices have made strokes largely treatable, but every second counts. Hackett says it is important to know the signs of stroke; the faster patients are treated the more likely they are to recover without any permanent disability.
 
Phoebe’s stroke team includes emergency medicine physicians, neurologists and nurses who specialize in stroke care as well as interventional radiologists and neurosurgeons who are always on call.
 
The DNV GL Healthcare Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that Phoebe addresses the full spectrum of stroke care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education – and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.