St. Luke Community Healthcare receives Stroke Recognition Award

St. Luke Community Hospital was recently recognized with the Stroke Recognition Award, which is sponsored by the Cardiovascular Health Program within the state health department.

The award singles out Critical Access Hospitals that demonstrate that they have the infrastructure and commitment to provide high quality care for patients with acute strokes. The award was launched in 2011, and St. Luke Community Hospital is one of only 16 Critical Access Hospitals in Montana to receive the recognition.

To qualify, hospitals must track and report key stroke outcomes, use outcomes data to initiate quality improvement activities and coordinate regular stroke trainings for healthcare providers.

Strokes are the leading cause of adult disability and death in Montana. Last year, over 2,000 Montana families were directly impacted by the devastating effects of a stroke. Symptom recognition and timely, high-quality treatment are important factors in reducing death and disability.

The signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face arm or leg

• Sudden trouble seeing

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

• Sudden loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone you know experiences stroke symptoms call 9-1-1 immediately.

For more information visit www.strokeassociation.org.