ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and the most common cause of adult disability. Saint Louis University Hospital has come up with a unique way to help stroke patients throughout the region. Thirty-one hospitals in Missouri and Illinois are members of what SLU is calling the Stroke Network. Many of the facilities are in small rural communities that don't have expensive technology or stroke specialists on staff.More than 700,000 Americans have a stroke every year. About 160,000 die from complications related to stroke. Many victims are in small communities that don't have specialists or equipment to treat stroke.
Ron Koler, 76, knew something was wrong when he woke up one Thursday morning in April and tried to read his cell phone manual.
"I didn't understand it," he says. "And it was very simple words. And I said, 'uh oh something is happening.'"
Ron knew exactly what was happening when his wife Audrey started talking with him.
"She asked a question and I turned around and my language was slurred. Audrey, didn't waste any time driving Ron, at his insistence, from their home in Damiansville to the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese. They arrived within 30 minutes of the onset of Ron's symptoms.
Dr. Loren Hughes is director of E.R. at St. Joseph's Hospital. He studies cat scans of stroke patients, treats them, and examines them when they arrive at the facility.
"We check for motor functions," he says. "We check for ability to speak, sensation sensory. If they can hold their arms up and what their coordination is. We go through all of the testing. You get a score from zero to the 30's. The higher the number the worst the stroke symptoms are. Ron came in and had some pretty devastating numbers in the communications area."
While testing Ron, Dr. Hughes was on the phone getting assistance from a team of stroke specialists at Saint Louis University Hospital, nearly 60 miles away. They were able to assist in diagnosis with the help of expertise not available in Breese.
Ron's suspicions were confirmed. He was suffering from a stroke. Arrangements were made to transport him by ambulance from St. Joseph's Hospital to SLU Hospital for further treatment.
"As soon as he hit the door we had him getting an MRI almost immediately."
SLU Hospital Website
Mid-America Stroke Network Website
St. Joseph's Hospital Website
