Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 6

Stroke
SurvivorS

Expert care
for the long
road back

by ElisE sims

Do you believe in miracles? Jack O'Conner,
Richard Chambers and William Gilliland do.
They say the fact that they are here today is nothing short
of a miracle. All three have triumphed over stroke and
acknowledge that they are enjoying life once again because
of the timely care and rehabilitation therapies they received
at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System.
Stroke miracles begin with a whole team of people who
are working together to ensure that more people not just
survive, but recover with as few lasting complications as
possible. The dedicated team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, emergency medical personnel, and therapy
and rehabilitation professionals. This team begins its intervention from the first point of contact with the patient, usually in the emergency department.

Understanding stroke
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked by
a clot or ruptures. The loss of oxygen and nutrients causes
brain cells to die. Physical disabilities as well as problems

with thinking and speaking may result from damage to the
brain. Immediate treatment is crucial to survival and reducing long-term disability.
For their work to optimize the care of stroke patients,
Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital
in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart,
have earned Certified Stroke Center Status from The Joint
Commission. A specialized stroke team at each hospital
works to diagnose and develop individual plans of care to
help patients who suffer strokes, and those who are at risk,
to live longer, fuller lives.
"One of the most important aspects of caring for stroke
patients is ensuring that there is the same high standard of
care in a timely efficient manner," says Neurologist Andrea
DeLeo, DO, MSE, Chamber's doctor and medical director of
the Stroke Care program at St. Catherine Hospital. "A dedicated stroke unit reduces mortality and improves overall outcomes for patients.
"This means that, no matter when a patient comes into the
hospital experiencing a stroke, each person receives the same
quality of care," she says. "We have worked diligently to collaborate and customize patient services, from emergency to
The dedicated stroke team at
Community Hospital that made all
the difference in timely care for Jack
O'Conner (front center with wife
Catherine) includes neurologists,
neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists,
clinical nurse specialists, registered
nurses, emergency medical personnel,
and therapy and rehabilitation
professionals. O'Conner's team
included (back row, from left):
Stephanie Bandstra, RN, BSN,
Neuroscience Stroke Team; Jill
Conner, RN, BSN, Nurse Manager,
Neuroscience ICU/IMCU, Stroke
Center; Jennifer Ewing, RN, MS,
CNS, Stroke Program Coordinator;
Jamie El Hairt, RN, BSN, Neuroscience
ICU Nurse; Gauri Kalokhe, MD,
Neurologist; and Shashidhar
Divakaruni, MD, Cardiologist.

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Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

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