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Botsford earns certification for giving seamless care to stroke patients

Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has been awarded "Primary Stroke Certification" from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP). Botsford has the capacity to stabilize and treat acute stroke patients, provide acute care, and administer tPA and other acute therapies safely and efficiently. Just last year, Botsford served as a principle investigator site on a large clinical trial that showed how community hospitals like Botsford can improve patients' chances of getting the blood clot-busting medicine tPA in the first few hours after a stroke, without risk of dangerous bleeding. 
 
"This certification shows our commitment to providing excellent stroke care to our patients," said William Boudouris, D.O., chairman, Neurology Department, and director, Botsford Stroke Center. "Our community members have local access to advanced stroke care right here at Botsford. This should be significant to all who live or work near Botsford since every second counts when treating a person who has had a stroke." 
 
Botsford meets HFAP standards for its Primary Stroke Certification: 
- The program director has extensive experience in acute stroke. 
- Stroke code team arrives at bedside within 15 minutes. 
- Neurologists, endovascular expertise, and lab testing and advanced imaging capabilities are available 24/7. 
- The hospital has designated stroke services. 
- Hospital staff meets educational requirements. 
 
Botsford Treats More Than 200 Stroke Patients Annually 
Botsford's on-call Stroke Team responds within minutes of a person arriving with new stroke symptoms. After required blood tests and a CT scan, the Stroke Team administers tPA if the patient meets criteria for using this powerful medication. 
 
The Stroke Team's neurologist follows stroke patients throughout their hospital stay, from the Emergency Center to Critical Care, Progressive Care, and finally the Rehab Unit. A doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation provides consultation for stroke patients. Beyond their hospital stay, patients may require more rehab work either in their own homes, in one of Botsford's four outpatient rehabilitation centers, or in the Sub-Acute Rehabilitation Center on the campus of Botsford Commons Senior Community. 
 
"Educating patients and the community about stroke prevention and care is another aspect of our stroke certification," said Dr. Boudouris. "Discharge planners meet with patients and their loved ones to discuss care options and give educational materials. Follow-up calls are placed to stoke patients to ensure compliance with their after-stroke treatment plan." 
 
In addition, Botsford hosts related support group meetings: 
- S.O.S. Club for survivors of stroke and their loved ones. First Monday of every month at 6 p.m., excluding holidays. Botsford Hospital, 3-South Rehabilitation Unit. To register, call Aniesa Pugh, (248) 471-8761. 
- Brain Injury Association of Michigan, an advocacy group. Monthly, second Thursday, 7:30-9 p.m. Botsford Hospital, Zieger Center, Community Room. Phone: (248) 442-2565. 
- Caregiver Support Group. For caregivers of adults with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or closed-head injuries, such as stroke. Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m. Botsford Hospital, Dining Conference Room. Phone: (248) 471-8791. 
 
Having support from Botsford Hospital's Board of Directors pushed this project to high priority status. Dr. Boudouris and nine others formed the Stroke Center Steering Committee. Sanford Vieder, D.O., chairman, Emergency Medicine, and medical director, Botsford's Emergency and Trauma Center, serves as the steering committee's co-director; Nursing Director Dahlia Klein, RN, is its coordinator. 
 
YOU Are Part of Botsford's Stroke Care Team 
The treatment clock starts running the moment the person has a stroke---no matter where that person happens to be. However, the window to begin treatment only lasts about three hours from the onset of symptoms. 
 
"Time is of the essence when a person is having a stroke. We can preserve brain function when people seek treatment without delay," said Dr. Boudouris. "People seem to take chest pains seriously, but most patients do not seek medical assistance for stroke quickly enough. Perhaps they're in denial when they should be coming to Botsford's ER." 
 
If you can recognize stroke symptoms, your actions could make the difference. If you think you are, or someone near you is, having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Use the "F.A.S.T." list from the American Stroke Association for stroke symptoms: 
 
- "F" for face drooping. Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven? 
- "A" for arm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? 
- "S" for speech difficulty. Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?  
- "T" for time to call 9-1-1. If you or someone else shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 to get to the hospital immediately. Check the time, so you'll be able to report when symptoms first appeared. 
 
For more information about Primary Stroke Certification, visit www.hfap.org.

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