Resolute Baptist Hospital earns Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification

(New Braunfels, TX) – Resolute Baptist Hospital has earned certification from The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center, affirming the hospital’s readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems.

Strokes happen when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die.

Telltale signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination; or sudden severe headache with no known cause. Call 911 right away if you or someone else has any of these symptoms.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a simple test to BE FAST if you think someone may be having a stroke:

B - Balance: Dizzy or unable to walk straight?
E - Eyes: Double vision or sudden vision loss?
F - Face: Is one side drooping?
A - Arm: Is one arm or side weak?
S - Speech: Is it slurred, absent or doesn’t make sense?
T - Time: Call 9-1-1 right away

“Every minute counts when a stroke is suspected. Understanding the signs of stroke are key to getting care quickly,” said Emergency Physician Heather Harris, M.D. “Stroke has no age limits, and younger adults are increasingly affected by stroke and its risk factors.”

Stroke affects about 800,000 people in the U.S. each year and is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States.

“More than 87 percent of strokes in the U.S. are ischemic strokes, caused by a clot that cuts off blood flow to a part of the brain. These types of strokes are largely treatable if a patient gets to a hospital that can provide the right treatment in time,” said Harris.

The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on standards affirming that the hospital addresses the full spectrum of stroke care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and education – and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes. The Joint Commission is an independent, non-profit, organization whose mission is to drive quality improvement and patient safety.

“Resolute Baptist Hospital is committed to providing its patients with appropriate, high quality stroke care,” said Mark Bernard, Resolute Baptist CEO. “Collaboration with our physicians and staff, and emergency medical services providers has helped our hospital achieve this certification for providing stroke care for New Braunfels and surrounding communities."

For information about Resolute Baptist Hospital, visit https://www.resolutehealth.com/.