Valley Medical Center’s Stroke Program has received the American Heart Association 2021 Gold Plus quality achievement award for the sixth year in a row, as well as their Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards. Based on 2020 calendar year data for Valley’s stroke treatment times, we are especially proud of this accomplishment during a pandemic year. Valley’s stroke team rose to the challenge by continuing to provide exceptional stroke treatment times while navigating our COVID-19 response.
Many moving parts and team members are integral to Valley’s Stroke Program success:
- King County first responders quickly identify and transport stroke patients from the field.
- Our expert ED team ensures patients are seen quickly and triaged for appropriate stroke treatments.
- The Acute Stroke Team collaborates with the Emergency Department and neurointerventionalists to determine eligibility for thrombectomy.
- Our stellar interventional radiology and anesthesia teams provide expert care of thrombectomy patients.
- This expert care continues with hospitalists, neurohospitalists, and critical care, stroke unit and rehabilitation staff.
- Our transition of care team ensures seamless care once patients are discharged and seen in primary care clinics and the Stroke Clinic.
Symptoms of a Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Source: American Academy of Neurology
Spot a Stroke FAST: Face drooping; Arm weakness; Speech difficulty; Time to call 9-1-1
