10/09/2007
(Hartford, Conn.) With statistics showing that one in every three people will suffer a stroke, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center is taking a pre-emptive strike against strokes.
The Stroke Center at Saint Francis is a new program comprised of highly specialized physicians and other health care professionals from various specialties including, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Radiology, Cardiology, Vascular Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Hospitalist Medicine, Physiatry, and Rehabilitation specialists from both Saint Francis and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
By assembling this diverse group of specialties, we are able to provide patients with rapid diagnosis from the onset of a stroke to advanced treatment through clinically proven, leading-edge technology,� explains Dr. Phaniraj Iyengar, Medical Director, The Stroke Center at Saint Francis.
With the establishment of this newly created team of physicians offering the latest advancements in stroke care, we are now working towards applying for and obtaining joint commission certification as a accredited primary stroke center,� said Christopher Dadlez, President and CEO, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.
The Stroke Center at Saint Francis is also equipped with the most advanced diagnostic testing through the Hospitals radiology department, including CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to capture precise images of the brain.
With the establishment of the post stroke follow-up program and the TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) intervention program, stroke patients and �at risk patients will also undergo a comprehensive education program at Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.
Aside from the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke, The Stroke Center at Saint Francis offers educational classes to stroke patients and �at risk patients with poorly managed cardiovascular disease and stroke risk factors. Topics include smoking cessation, understanding and managing blood pressure, and diabetes awareness.
Courses with CME credits (Continuing Medical Education are also offered to physicians interested in learning more about stroke prevention and management. Most nursing staff on the newly designated stroke units have completed a mandatory 8-hour educational program to better care for stroke patients.
Founded in 1897, Saint Francis is a major teaching hospital licensed for 617 acute inpatient beds and 65 bassinets and is the largest Catholic hospital in New England.
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