CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial sets new personal record time for stroke care

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial has achieved a remarkable milestone in stroke care, breaking a personal record for door-to-needle time and setting the new record of 21 minutes.

Door-to-needle time refers to the duration between a stroke patient's arrival at the hospital and the administration of the lifesaving medication, significantly improving their chances of recovery.

On average, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke and every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, someone dies of stroke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.

“Every minute counts when it comes to stroke treatment,” said Adam Alexander, registered nurse for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial. “Timely intervention can prevent further damage to the brain and increase the likelihood of minimal long-term effects and even survival.”

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot. When this happens, parts of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen needed, causing brain cells to die.

This achievement surpasses the previous record of 24 minutes, Alexander said.

"We are incredibly proud of our team's achievement in breaking our personal door-to-needle time record," Alexander said. "It takes a village to save a stroke patient, and this accomplishment reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance stroke care and improve patient outcomes.”

He said to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke and to seek medical attention immediately if you believe you are experiencing one. An easy acronym to help remember the signs of a stroke is: BE FAST:

• B: Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• E: Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
• F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• A: Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is very important.