Coffeyville Regional Medical Center
Press Release

1400 West 4th Street | Coffeyville, KS 67337 | Fax 620-252-1652

CRMC Offers New Technology for Stroke Victims

The Emergency Department at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center announced today a new service that will aid stroke victims. CRMC was selected by the Kansas University Medical Center to participate in a grant project that will place tele-medicine equipment in the Emergency Department. KU will provide equipment that includes cameras that immediately link the patient with the stroke specialist at KU. The specialist consults with the CRMC Emergency Department physician to verify the diagnosis and agree on the best course of action for each patient’s unique condition. The tele-medicine project at KU has this camera equipment in place at a number of clinics throughout the state, but CRMC is the first that will be utilized for stroke care in an emergency department with specialist availability 24 hours a day.

“Everyone needs to know the warning signs of stroke,” said Susan McDaniel, Director of the Emergency Department. “If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, do not delay!”

These are the warning signs of stroke, provided by the American Heart Association.

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

Take Immediate Action – Call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary. The short duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between TIA and stroke.

“Give me 5 for stroke” is the way to remember the warning signs of stroke.

1. Walk – Does the patient have adequate balance to walk?
2. Talk – Is the speech slurred or face droopy?
3. Reach – Is one side weak or numb?
4. See - Is the vision all or partly lost?
5. Feel – Is the headache severe?

Even if the patient has only one of these symptoms or the symptoms go away, call 911 and go to the emergency department immediately! For more information: 1-888-4stroke or giveme5forstroke.org or americanheartassociation.org

The Emergency Department at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center administers the most up-to-date, life-saving emergency treatment for a Stroke Attack which is just as dangerous and debilitating as a Heart Attack. It is vital that the stroke patient arrives at the Emergency Department within the first few minutes after the onset of the symptoms. This new equipment provides the capability to consult with a specialist at KU, who can see the patient, and provide input into the decision about the next phase of the patient’s care.

If you have any questions, please contact Susan McDaniel Director of the CRMC Emergency Department at 620.252.1631 or Dona Pendleton Care Manager at 620.251.1200 ext 1198.

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