ALBEMARLE HOSPITAL DESIGNATED “STROKE CAPABLE” BY
NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Albemarle Hospital, a Vidant Health Partner, has been named a “Stroke Capable Hospital” by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. This special designation is only granted to hospitals that meet specific, enhanced care capability requirements related to the effective treatment of stroke patients.
A “Stroke Capable Hospital” is recognized by the NC Office of Emergency Medical Services for:
- Having specific diagnostic services available, in this instance Computerized Tomography (CT) scans, with a CT technician available in-house at all times;
- Possessing the ability to quickly and accurately evaluate a stroke patient who would benefit from thrombolytic therapy (treatment to break up blood clots in the blood vessels);
- Having the capability, expertise and willingness to administer thrombolytics (t-PA) to eligible patients;
- Accepting all stroke patients regardless of bed availability;;
- Providing feedback to area Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
As part of its “Stroke Capable Hospital” capability, Albemarle Health has teamed with EMS providers in its seven-county service area to initiate pre-hospital arrival stroke screenings, provide hospital notification of incoming stroke patients, and have its Emergency Department, along with Albemarle Neurology, prepared to diagnose and initially treat stroke patients. Albemarle Hospital has partnered with Sentara Healthcare, including Sentara Neurology Specialists, in Virginia, and Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC, to develop its processes; and has protocols in place to safely transfer patients to either Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, or Pitt County Memorial Hospital – both certified as Primary Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission.
“Albemarle Hospital is proud to be a “Stroke Capable Hospital,” and to be able to offer this sophisticated level of care to those patients whose quality of life may depend on timely, accurate, and effective stroke treatment,” said Sharon M. Tanner, Albemarle Health President. “In addition to being designated a ‘Stroke Capable Hospital’, we continue to focus on providing stroke education, prevention, and rehabilitation services to people throughout our region. We know that time matters in initiating treatment for the stroke patient, and we’re dedicated to decreasing the time from diagnosis to treatment, and helping stroke patients receive the care they need.”
