—Network to Provide Comprehensive Stroke Care to Patients across Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky—
Saint Thomas Health Services recently launched the Saint Thomas Stroke Network, an expansion of network services currently provided by the Saint Thomas Chest Pain Network. The Stroke Network brings neurological expertise to local EMS and hospital providers across Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky.
“This partnership allows Saint Thomas Health Services - and all of its hospitals - to join forces with local providers to offer enhanced stroke care to the region,” said Ranee Curtis, Director of Chest Pain & Stroke Network. “So far, centers are located in Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville, Tenn. & Lincoln County Medical Center, Fayetteville, Tenn. The services will be expanded to the entire Chest Pain Network by the end of the year.”
“The Saint Thomas Stroke Network was created in an effort to provide patients across the region with a streamlined approach to advanced stroke care - from early recognition of stroke-like symptoms to prompt diagnosis, treatment and transfer,” said Dr. Michael Kaminski, Medical Director of the Stroke Network. “The Stroke Network is dedicated to educating patients on preventative measures, and providing access to neurological emergencies, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services.”
Each year approximately 750,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.
“Moving patients, especially those living in remote areas, through the stroke system quickly and efficiently is critical to saving more lives and limiting disabilities,” said Amy Howard, clinical coordinator, stroke network. “Through this network, we hope to improve community awareness and emergency access. And through our dedicated observation setting, physicians are able to more closely monitor patients during a neurological event.”
The Saint Thomas Stroke Network provides onsite analysis and consultation, creates and review protocols, provides onsite education for ED staff, EMS and physicians, monitors clinical approaches, provide process improvement/quality program and supports ongoing community outreach. This partnership calls for the local hospitals to provide adequate resources, participate in the stroke education and quality improvement programs, and implement the network’s protocols and guidelines. The local EMS works cooperatively with the local hospitals to cultivate a positive working relationship, initiate a public relationship with local media, and participate in the Stroke/Chest Pain Committee Meetings and Quality Improvement Processes related to outcomes.
For more information about the Saint Thomas Stroke Network, please visit HeartAsOne.com/stroke or call 1-877-374-1914.
About Saint Thomas Health Services
Saint Thomas Health Services is a faith-based ministry with more than 6,500 associates serving Middle Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health Services’ regional health system consists of four hospitals -- Baptist and Saint Thomas in Nashville, Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro and Hickman Community Hospital in Centerville - and a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures in diagnostics, cardiac services and ambulatory surgery as well as medical practices, the Center for Spinal Surgery, clinics and rehabilitation facilities. STHS is a member of Ascension Health, a Catholic organization that is the largest not-for-profit health system in the United States.
Contacts:
Saint Thomas Health Services
Rebecca Climer, 615-284-6839
rclimer@stthomas.org
