Maryland's Health Matters - Charles Regional - Fall 2016 - 9


received tPA, only 17 minutes had

daughter, her husband and their two

stroke patients need a brain scan to

passed-well below the 60-minute

children. Because of the friends

see if something other than a stroke

target suggested by national guide-

and medical providers who acted fast,

could be causing the symptoms. In a

lines. "What could have been a disaster

Bryan continues his full life as a

code stroke, the CT scanner is put on

became a testimony of great team-

pastor and coach, a husband, father

standby and the radiology tech alerts

work, dedication and professionalism,"

and grandfather. That's what

the radiologist who will be reading the

Bryan says.

successful stroke care looks like. 

Before tPA can be given, potential

scan as soon as it is ready. Suspected
CT. "The EMS stretcher doesn't even

THE FACE OF SUCCESSFUL
STROKE CARE

stop in a room," Dr. Mann says. While

On Oct. 15, 2016, 56-year-old Chris-

the radiologist reads the scan, the lab

topher Bryan Jr. will walk his younger

runs a blood test and the patient is

daughter down the aisle on her

examined by the treating doctor and

wedding day.

stroke patients are rushed straight to

nurses who do a stroke assessment.
From the time Bryan arrived
at Charles Regional to the time he

FIND SUPPORT
UM CRMC offers a
stroke support group that
meets monthly. For
more information, visit
www.charlesregional.org.

Exactly one year after his sudden
stroke, Bryan will celebrate this milestone alongside his wife, his older

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CARE
When hospitals apply the most up-to-date evidence-

As one of the criteria to qualify for the Get With the

based treatment guidelines, patient outcomes improve.

Guidelines awards, Charles Regional must give tPA

For 2016, UM Charles Regional Medical Center received

medication to at least 75 percent of eligible patients

the American Heart Association/American Stroke Associa-

within 60 minutes of their arrival at the hospital. "If we

tion's Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality

don't recognize that a person is having a stroke, we're

Achievement Award for the third year in a row, and also

already failing," Abu-Realh says.

received the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite designation.

To achieve its excellent outcomes, Charles Regional

The award recognizes the hospital's commitment to ongo-

screens about 60 to 80 patients a month via its "code

ing quality improvement in providing the most appropriate

stroke" protocols. "We do not want to miss anybody,"

stroke treatment based on the latest scientific evidence.

Abu-Realh says. An average of 15 patients monthly are

"It takes an immense amount of cooperation and

diagnosed with stroke, and an average of two patients a

communication between all the departments in the

month come in during the treatment window for tPA.

hospital to make our stroke treatment outcomes so

"A few years ago, we only had two or three patients a

good," says Emergency Department Medical Director

year who received tPA," Abu-Realh says.

Richard Ferraro, MD, FACEP. Charles Regional exceeds

Designated as a Primary Stroke Center, Charles

both state and national averages in how quickly it

Regional has strong relationships with nearby tertiary

administers tPA treatment.

care centers, including University of Maryland Medical

"We start by educating every single hospital employee,"

Center in Baltimore, for patients who require transfer

explains Mohammed Abu-Realh, stroke program

for more specialty care, Dr. Ferraro says. A designated

coordinator and director of nursing. Each employee-

10-bed stroke unit treats, educates and rehabilitates

including registration personnel, housekeeping, security

stroke patients who are admitted to Charles Regional.

and maintenance-receives yearly training based on

"The community can be happy to know that when

their level of patient interaction to prepare them to rec-

they come here, they are going to get the excellent care

ognize and respond appropriately to stroke symptoms.

that they deserve," Abu-Realh says.

charlesregional.org | Fall 2016

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Charles Regional - Fall 2016
