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A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a blood
clot or bursts, and the brain becomes damaged in that area. Stroke is the third
leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of disability
in adults, according to the American Heart Association. For this reason, St.
John’s Mercy is committed to providing rapid stroke intervention and a comprehensive
treatment plan following a stroke.
Because of
this comprehensive approach to clinical quality and excellence in stroke
care, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center is among the top 10 percent in
the nation and the top three in the state among Medicare providers for stroke
care, according to the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid (CMS) MedPar data.
Please select from the
links below to learn about our quality initiatives in stroke
care:
Innovations in Patient
Care
If you or a loved one seeks
treatment for a stroke, how well you do depends primarily
on two
factors:
how quickly you seek treatment and the experience
and skill of the treatment team. Our innovative approach to stroke care,
combined with advanced treatment modalities, results in enhanced clinical
quality for
the patients we serve. Patient outcomes are improved through these care innovations:
- The Use of Clot-dissolving
Emergency Medication: When a stroke is caused by an obstruction
of blood flow through an artery, the use of a clot-dissolving
drug called tPA can break up the clot quickly, restoring normal blood flow
and reducing damage to the brain. Strokes, like heart attacks, are considered
a medical emergency because there is very little time before permanent
damage to brain tissue occurs. Tissue type plasminogen activating factor
(tPA) was
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1996 and remains the
only medication approved for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
However, not
all hospitals use this dynamic treatment. Choosing a hospital with comprehensive
stroke services is one way to improve your chances of the best outcome.
- Multidisciplinary
Team – A treatment team of physicians, therapists, nurses and speech pathologists
works closely together to help each patient reach his
or her full potential. This multidisciplinary team meets regularly to evaluate
and help the patients achieve their short- and long-term goals. The patient's
family members are encouraged to participate in the recovery process.
- Comprehensive Patient
Care Plans – At St. John’s Mercy, our goal is to help make each recovering
patient a success story, with a return to a fulfilling
lifestyle. A comprehensive care plan is created for each patient so that progression
from medical to rehabilitative care is a smooth transition.
- A Compassionate
Approach – St. John's Mercy has a long tradition of providing outstanding care with
compassion. We take a holistic approach to medical and
rehabilitative care that stresses physical, emotional, psychological and social
improvement.
Clinical Research
St. John’s Mercy stays abreast of innovations and advances in stroke care
through participation in national clinical trials.
- CREST Trial – St. John’s Mercy Medical Center is one of 60 medical centers
in the nation chosen to participate in the CREST (Carotid Revascularization
Endarterectomy vs. Stenting) trial. Sponsored by the National Institutes of
Health, CREST is a randomized clinical trial to compare a minimally invasive
procedure called carotid artery stenting with the surgical procedure called
carotid endarterectomy. The trial compares the effectiveness of both procedures
in preventing stroke, heart attack and death during the 30-day period immediately
following either procedure. Over a multiyear follow-up of patients who receive
the stenting procedure, the trial will also document the incidence of stroke
occurring on the same side of the brain in which the stent was placed.
- CAPTURE Trial – St.
John’s Mercy Medical Center is one of 150 medical centers
in the nation chosen to participate in the CAPTURE (Carotid ACCULINK/ACCUNET
Post Approval Trial to Uncover Rare Events) trial, a study to investigate
carotid artery stenting in high-risk patients. For patients who are ineligible
or at high risk for traditional surgery, carotid stenting provides a minimally
invasive breakthrough therapy to reduce the risk of stroke. The CAPTURE
trial will document the incidence of stroke, death and heart attack at
30 days following the carotid stenting procedure.
Our Stroke Care Team
Our patients benefit from a team approach to stroke care, which brings together
our combined experience and success in treating and rehabilitating patients.
Our certified stroke care professionals include physicians, neuropsychologists,
physical and occupational therapists, nurses and speech pathologists. These
specialists work with nationally recognized experts across the country to ensure
that they remain on the leading edge of stroke care.
Our caring staff members work together to make important treatment decisions
while caring for the whole person.
Looking for a neurologist
or other physician? St. John’s Mercy offers a free physician referral service.
Simply call 314-FOR-DOCS or 1-888-700-7171, or
visit the Physician Referral
home page.
St. John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
 The St. John’s Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital provides advanced rehabilitative
and medical treatments and compassionate care from skilled professionals.
Our inpatient and outpatient
rehabilitation therapists use effective equipment and training methods, such
as:
- Harness walking system/body
weight support gait trainer
- Computerized neuromuscular
retraining
- Computerized functional
electrical stimulation
- Videostroboscopy
- Computerized
isokinetic exercise
- Computerized balance and
vertigo system
For more information about
our rehabilitative services, please visit the St.
John’s Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital or call 314-881-4000.
Inpatient Outcomes and Satisfaction
When evaluating rehabilitation services, two important measures are patient
outcomes and patient satisfaction. The St. John’s Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
offers comprehensive data for our inpatient
rehabilitative programs on their
home page.
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