One of the country’s top centers for neurology and neurosurgery available at Wickenburg Community Hospital
Teledoc with Barrow Neurological Institute
Wickenburg Community Hospital (WCH) Emergency Department is excited about the working relationship with St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, and Barrow Neurological Institute for Telestroke Service which was established on June 7, 2021. Barrow Neurological Institute is listed as “The world’s largest neurological disease treatment and research institution” and “U.S. News & World Report” consistently ranks Barrow as a top center for neurology and neurosurgery in the country.” Barrow provides support to WCH along with educational opportunities to provide the community with exceptional Stroke Care.
How it Works
The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a systematic assessment tool that provides a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurologic deficit. The NIHSS was originally designed as a research tool to measure baseline data on patients in acute stroke clinical trials. Now, the scale is also widely used as a clinical assessment tool to evaluate acuity of stroke patients, determine appropriate treatment, and predict patient outcome.1 When a patient of WCH Emergency Department is presenting stroke symptoms he/she will be evaluated by our Board Certified Emergency Physicians, have an assessment completed by a specially trained Registered Nurse who has National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) education, then taken to the WCH CT Scanner which, has been described by Barrow Neurological Institute Neurologists as having some of the best ever seen for evaluating stroke.
During the stroke evaluation WCH has the technology, Teledoc, that actually allows the patient to see and communicate with a Barrow National Institute (BNI) physician remotely; the WCH RN or physician will assist with the stroke assessment and BNI specialist will provide further direction of treatment based on diagnostic findings. If continued treatment is needed based on the physician decision, transportation is arranged immediately to get patients to a higher level of care St Joseph Hospital and Medical Center/Barrow Neurological Institute for further treatment will be arranged with the PHI Air Evacuation unit based on WCH.
Follow-up Care
If an inpatient hospital stay of three midnights or longer is necessary and it is determined that additional rehabilitation to gain strength and coordination is needed, WCH’s Transitional Care unit provides rehabilitation therapies for patients transitioning home or to a long-term care facility. Patients will receive individualized care led by a compassionate team that recognizes the importance of family involvement. This unique program is available to you at WCH so you may recover close to home and loved ones.
References:
1) BlueCloud® The International Electronic Education Network® https://nihstrokescale.org/
