Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Celebrates Stroke Program

10/29/2024

Palmer, AK - October 29, 2024 – Every year on October 29, the world comes together to raise awareness of Stroke during World Stroke Day.

“Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the fifth leading cause of death in Alaska,” says Amber Simonetti, RN, stroke coordinator at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. “Our goal is to not only preserve your life, but also protect your quality of life by continuously striving for excellence in our systems of care.”

According to the American Stroke Association every minute a stroke goes untreated, 1.9 million brain cells die, which could lead to over three weeks of lost life.

Early recognition of stroke symptoms and activation of emergency services improves outcomes for patients experiencing a stroke. The BE FAST acronym is a helpful reminder to watch for the following symptoms:

• Balance: Sudden change in gait, loss of balance and/or coordination
• Eyes: Sudden loss or change of vision in one or both eyes
• Face drooping: Facial asymmetry with movement
• Arm weakness: Sudden change such as numbness/tingling, heaviness, or inability to move one side of the body
• Speech: Sudden change in the way the person is speaking - slurred words or seem confused?
• Time to call 9-1-1

Other symptoms can include sudden and severe headache pain. Treatment must be administered quickly to avoid irreversible damage.

For those who have experienced a stroke - whether personally or in a loved one - recovery can be an emotional and lengthy process. Mat-Su Regional Medical Center hosts a Stroke Support Group monthly at the hospital on the third Tuesday from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information, email: strokesurvivors@msrmc.com.

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center (MSRMC) is recognized for its commitment to providing high quality stroke care. MSRMC has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval ® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification.

“Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission.

MSRMC has also received the 2024 American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines ® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

“This award highlights the hard work and collaboration of multiple departments and disciplines within our hospital. We are proud to provide exemplary care to patients experiencing stroke in our community,” says Melissa Davis, RN, CPHQ, CPHRM, and chief quality officer at MSMRC.

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is a proud member of the Alaska Stroke Coalition (ASC), a collaborative network of hospitals dedicated to improving stroke care across Alaska. Together with eight (8) other hospitals in this coalition, MSRMC has implemented RapidAI’s FDA-cleared, industry-leading medical imaging and workflow support technology, which helps providers quickly identify stroke and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

This cutting-edge AI-based innovation empowers our care teams to provide faster stroke care, enables easier collaboration with other hospitals, and helps us overcome Alaska's distance challenges by minimizing unnecessary or delayed transfers to larger hospitals.

"We can’t control the distance or weather that stands in the way of timely treatment, but by leveraging this technology we can directly impact the number of stroke patients we detect and how fast we treat them, resulting in more equitable care for residents across the state,” said Dr. Lucy He, FAANS, neurosurgeon and physician sponsor of the ASC.

About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.

For more information, visit the RapidAI website at RapidAI.com.

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