With MGH - Marion General Hospital

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you?” Then he noticed the right side of her mouth was drooping and she could not talk to him. He immediately knew this as a sign of stroke, because a family member had suffered the same symptom. (See sidebar for more signs of stroke.) David took the wheel and drove them both directly to MGH. QUICK TO ACTION Upon arrival at MGH, emergency room staff, with their specialized stroke care training, immediately went into action. “They rushed me inside and without delay took me to a room and the nurses began evaluating me,” Callahan says. “I could hear them, but I was unable to speak or respond.” Part of Callahan’s evaluation included telemedicine and teleradiology. This modern technology is provided to MGH patients through a unique partnership between Marion General Hospital and the Fort Wayne-based StrokeCareNow Network (SCNN). With telemedicine, high-quality audio and video is transmitted electronically between a stroke specialist at one location and a patient who has stroke symptoms at a different location. “Our partnership with SCNN gives our patients the opportunity to be physically lying in a bed in our ER while being seen, heard and evaluated by an off-site neurologist,” says Tamara Cornelious, emergency department administrative director. “We can then decide the best possible treatment for our patients based on that evaluation.” In Callahan’s case, it was decided she needed to be transferred by helicopter to Fort Wayne for more intense care for her stroke. (That is not always the case. Since partnering with SCNN, MGH has decreased the number of stroke patients needing to be transferred to another location by 42 percent.) Through teleradiology, the results of Callahan’s radiology procedures were quickly and safely transmitted to the off-site neurologist for evaluation. SAVING TIME WHEN IT MATTERS MOST “By time we arrived in Fort Wayne only 45 minutes later, the neurologist there had looked over the tests, and we already had answers as far as Signs of Stroke A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these occurs, brain cells die and brain damage occurs. Two million brain cells die each passing minute during a stroke, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Nearly 60 percent of stroke deaths happen to females. Called a “brain attack,” a stroke strikes suddenly, often with the following warning signs. Remember to act FAST. Facial weakness. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? Arm and leg weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Speech problems. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Is the sentence repeated correctly? Time is critical. If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 immediately . . . brain cells are dying. Remember, every minute counts! The most effective treatments are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptom. Source: www.stroke.org what they were going to do to further help her. That was incredible,” David says. “The fact that my wife is sitting here today and talking is positive proof the partnership between MGH and SCNN works. I thank God, MGH and the SCNN for saving my wife.” Callahan feels as good as she has felt in years and reports no side effects of her stroke. Perhaps best of all, just six weeks after her life-threatening ordeal, she joined the celebration of her son’s wedding—as scheduled. Sources: www.strokeassociation.org, www.stroke.org JoDell Callahan joins son Zachary on his wedding day, just six weeks after her stroke. Vim & Vigor · WINTER 2011 51
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE Who’s Lighting the Halls of MGH? Marion General Hospital honors its employees who embrace the spirit of service excellence through its Headlighter program. Here is MGH’s most recent group of employees who earned the distinction. HEADLIGHTERS • Debbie Carter, R.N., family birthing center • Dennis Wanderlich, ambulance • Cindy Canida-Woodward, R.N., emergency room • Mabel Duncan, environmental services (Crothall) • Trina Nevers, R.N., short-stay observation unit • Mike Dawson, protective services • Todd Slusser, R.N., emergency room • Suzi Welker, protective services • Randy Deffenbaugh, PR/marketing Purpose Worthwhile work Making a difference Featured Headlighter Todd Slusser, R.N., emergency room, goes out of his way for a patient’s family member Todd Slusser was taking care of an elderly woman in the ER who was going to be transferred to a hospital in Fort Wayne. The patient’s daughter wanted to go with her, but she could not drive after dark and was not allowed to ride in the ambulance. Todd was off work but waited on the patient to be transferred, then drove the patient’s daughter to the Fort Wayne hospital. It was 30 miles out of his way on his drive home. This is above and beyond the call of duty. Todd is a compassionate and caring nurse. What a great display of nursing care! 52 Vim & Vigor · WINTER 2011
Page 1 and 2: vim& HEALTHY LIVING FOR OUR REGION
Page 3 and 4: Opening ThoughTs What’s at Stake?
Page 5 and 6: The Attention DESERVE BY RANDY DEFF
Page 7 and 8: Extraordi carE providErs By Carolyn
Page 9 and 10: FRIEND OF NURSING JO ANN HARDCASTLE
Page 11: When David Callahan recognized sign
Page 15 and 16: Volunteer ServiceS ’Tis the Seaso
Page 17 and 18: Community ConneCtions Continuous ed

With MGH - Marion General Hospital

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