have specialized stroke training.
Dr. Rasmussen and her team
work closely with the Emergency
Department, who are usually first in
line to recognize stroke patients and
determine whether they are candidates
for a medication called t-PA. If so,
they call upon the expertise of Dr.
Rasmussen and her team, highly
trained experts who administer the
medication and evaluate patients for
an innovative and potentially lifesaving
procedure that accesses and removes
the blood clot in the brain through an
artery in the leg.
Quality stroke care
makes a difference
Over the past 10 years, stroke centers
have become a critical component of
quality health care, helping to demote
stroke from its position as the third
leading cause of death and disability to
number five. “We also know that being
admitted to a certified stroke center
can cut your risk of recurrence by 30
percent, because of the way that we
care for patients,” says Dr. Rasmussen.
Because rehabilitation is the key to
recovery after a stroke, Dr. Rasmussen
and her team work closely with physical
and occupational therapists as well. “It
takes three to six months to recover,
so connecting patients with physical
and occupational therapists and our
physical medicine and rehab team
quickly is very important,” she says.
Educating
other
healthcare
providers and the community about
the symptoms of a stroke is another
top priority for Dr. Rasmussen’s team.
“A lot of people don’t recognize the
symptoms of a stroke; they stay at
home and think it will get better,” she
says. “When that happens, they miss
the time that we can give them clotbusting medicine and treatment.”
“What we’re building here is
important,” says Dr. Rasmussen. “In
addition to the facilities and care we
give, we’re looking to build a network
for quick access to cutting-edge stroke
treatment for the entire region.”
A new kind of stroke team
Dr. Rasmussen is a vascular neurologist,
a relatively new subspecialty in
neurology focusing on the diagnosis
and treatment of strokes. Using the
latest techniques, Dr. Rasmussen works
with a team of clinicians, implementing
the latest research and innovative
techniques to benefit patients. For
example, a recent study published in
the New England Journal of Medicine
described the value of administering
the medication t-PA (referenced above)
within four-and-a-half hours from
stroke onset, then using a retrieval
device through the leg to access specific
large clots in the brain and remove
them. This is a practice the stroke team
at Scott & White Memorial Hospital
in Temple is already doing.
“The study demonstrated that
the procedure not only changes how
much patients improve, it also makes
a difference in enabling them to walk,”
Dr. Rasmussen says. “And, if we
intervene early enough, it can make a
life-and-death difference.”
Her work isn’t confined to
emergency situations. “Just about every
day, I’ll see all the stroke patients
that were admitted that day, and all
the ICU stroke patients, and give
recommendations to physicians about
how to manage patients’ symptoms
and prevent further damage to the
brain,” says Dr. Rasmussen. “I’ll
also review the data with our stroke
coordinators, so they can keep a close
eye on our timing and results.” The
team meets regularly to discuss ways to
improve patient care. These efforts and
more ensure that patients in Central
Texas get the care they need when
experiencing stroke symptoms. n
STOP A STROKE
FAST
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech slur
Time to call 911
Knowing the signs
and acting FAST could
save a life
sw.org | September 15 THE CATALYST
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