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Telestroke

Blanchard Valley Health System in partnership with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offer telemedicine services through telestroke in the emergency departments of Blanchard Valley Hospital and Bluffton Hospital. The telestroke machine is used to establish a telemedicine link using videoconferencing and image sharing technology, so stroke specialists at the Wexner Medical Center can work together with Blanchard Valley Health System providers to examine patients and help diagnose the ailment and recommend a plan of care. Click here to learn more about this telestroke program, or watch a patient testimonial on his success with this program by clicking here.

What is a stroke?

A stoke is a medical emergency. Strokes happen when blood flow to your brain stops. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. There are two kinds of stroke. The more common kind, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain. “Mini-strokes,” or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted.

Stroke symptoms include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (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.

Individuals having any of these symptoms, must get to a hospital quickly to begin treatment. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot or by stopping the bleeding. Post-stroke rehabilitation helps individuals overcome disabilities that result from stroke damage. Drug therapy with blood thinners is the most common treatment for stroke.

With general questions contact the Chest Pain/Stroke Programs Coordinator at 419.423.5567. Should you experience an emergency, call 911 immediately.