Oak Hill's Primary Care Stroke Facility

Did you know that Oak Hill Hospital recently earned national certification as a primary stroke center from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations? This is great news for local healthcare in Hernando County. This newly accredited stroke facility at Oak Hill is the only hospital in this area to offer such cutting edge technology in (stroke) treatment of the patient. The only stroke facility of this stature outside of Hernando County is in Tampa but this really is not an option when time is of the essence in quickly accessing and treating the stroke patient. For example, one type of stroke occurs when a clot within your arteries cuts off the blood supply to the brain. With this type of stroke, or brain attack, it is critical that a person with (stroke) symptoms be accessed within 3 hours. If this type of stroke occurs, a clot busting drug can be administered within the 3 hour window to help prevent permanent disabilities, such as speech disorders, paralyses or even death.

Some symptoms of stroke include the following:

• numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body
• confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• severe headache with no known cause

We now have a very viable choice for survival, not only for ourselves but our loved ones, in the event of a stroke. First, call 911 if symptoms begin, and then demand the ambulance take you directly to Oak Hill hospital for assessment at the only certified stroke facility in 70 squares mile radius. Secondly, call your county medical director, Dr. Robert Blackburn, and request that he set up directives and training for all Hernando County EMS personnel in recognizing the symptoms of a stroke patient. For example, Dr. Blackburn already has a directive to air lift head trauma patients to a Tampa Trauma Unit for assessment/treatment by his EMS staff based strictly on the the safety of the patient. Hopefully, Dr. Blackburn will put the safety of the public first for possible stroke patients and direct his EMS staff to transport them to the Stroke Center at Oak Hill Hospital. Check out Oak Hill's website for more information at www.OakHillHosptial.com or call 352-596-6632.