The pilot project, beginning on May 5, will direct ambulance providers in the NYC 911 system to take certain categories of patients with signs and symptoms of stroke (CVA) to specially designated Stroke Centers. The MediSys Health Network, (Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital, and Brookdale Hospital) have been designated as special receiving hospitals for these patients. "By receiving this status, Jamaica, Flushing, and Brookdale Hospitals have demonstrated to the DOH officials that they posses the clinical expertise, equipment, trained staff, and follow-up rehabilitation to effectively diagnose and treat stroke patients," stated Dr Arthur Kay, stroke team leader and Chief Neurologist for the network.

A stroke, also known as a “brain attack,” occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clot or blockage, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they either stop receiving oxygen and other nutrients essential for proper function or because they are damaged by sudden bleeding in or around the brain.
When taking a patient to a Stroke Center, EMS notifies the hospital en route and the Stroke Team is activated. “Patients receive immediate and aggressive evaluation to see if they can be treated with clot dissolving thrombolitic therapy,” stated Dr Lewis Marshall, Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Brookdale University Hospital. “The patient is immediately triaged and a CT Scan of the brain is taken,” he continued. Stroke Centers have the ability to get an immediate reading of the CT Scan, and consultation with a neurologist and/or a neurosurgeon if necessary and a treatment plan is initiated.

The estimated window of opportunity to begin treating stroke patients is three hours. This requires the patient to be at the hospital as rapidly as possible after the onset of the stroke. The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater and more permanent the damage will be. Immediate treatment can save someone’s life and enhance his or her chances for a successful recovery

Although a stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body depending on which area is damaged. Generally, effects from a stroke range from mild to severe and can cause a variety of problems including partial or complete paralysis, deficits in motor functions, language deficiencies, loss of comprehension and word retrieval, and emotional changes. Patients may also experience sensory disturbances including pain or numbness following a stroke.

Although there are lifestyle changes that can be made to reduce the risk, it is important to note that everyone is susceptible to suffering a stroke - but if one occurs, immediate action needs to be taken. The American Stroke Association recommends you immediately call 911 if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body
• Sudden confusion or speaking and understanding difficulty
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Or a sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital, and Brookdale Hospital were just three of many hospitals that sought Stroke Center designation throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Of the many candidates, only a few were chosen. In fact, Jamaica is the only hospital in Southern Queens to be selected.

The three hospitals of the MediSys Health Network treat over 250,000 Emergency Department patients per year. The network boasts two level-one Trauma Centers, three Nursing Homes, three rehabilitation centers, a state-of-the-art Traumatic Brain Injury Unit, and a team of world-renowned neurosurgeons.

To arrange for an interview with a member of our stroke team or to find out how the public can take advantage of free stroke screenings being offered throughout the MediSys Health Network during the month of May, please call the Public Affairs Department at 718- 206-6020.

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