Stroke Care Within Easy Reach at McLeod

With medical centers from the midlands to the coast, patients and their families will find stroke care, treatment and rehabilitation nearby. A stroke occurs when blood to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Stroke ranks as the #3 killer in South Carolina and the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. In 2014, McLeod Regional Medical Center became the first hospital in the region to become certified as a Primary Stroke Center. And we retain that certification to date. In 2019, McLeod Health Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast became Acute Stroke Ready by DNV GL Healthcare. DNV is a certification body that helps hospitals achieve excellence by improving quality and safety through hospital accreditation.

Spot Stroke Symptoms B-E F-A-S-T. If you know the symptoms of stroke, you might save a life. They are:

 

  • Balance – Loss of balance or coordination
  • Eyes – Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
  • Face – Sudden numbness or weakness of the face.
  • Arm – Numbness in arms or legs, especially on one side of the body.
  • Speech – Trouble speaking or understanding speech.
  • Time – Seek treatment, call 911, as soon as possible. Every minute you wait, the chances of recovery shrink.
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  • RAPID Imaging Software

    McLeod Health has the RAPID Imaging software that expedites stroke care for patients. RAPID quickly analyzes a head CT scan of patients experiencing acute strokes. The software is fast and automated with results being viewed on any computer or handheld device by the McLeod Neurology Medical Team. Within minutes, scans with stroke test results are being sent to McLeod Neurologists, the Interventional Neuroradiologist, Emergency Physicians, Anesthesiologists, and Critical Care Specialists.

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    RAPID quickly provides these McLeod specialists with patient information, allowing them to rapidly assess the severity of the patient’s stroke and determine the most appropriate treatment. The faster patient information is delivered, the sooner treatment can begin and that can potentially be brain saving or even life saving for the patient.

    The RAPID technology service is available at all McLeod Health hospitals: McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Carolina Forest, McLeod Health Loris, and McLeod Health Seacoast.

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  • TeleSpecialists Network Brings Stroke Subspecialists into McLeod Emergency Departments

    A web-based, telemedicine system enables consultations between Emergency Department physicians and Board Certified Neurologists 24/7. McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence is part of the TeleSpecialists network, as well as McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast for rapid assessment for critically ill stroke patients.

  • Specialized Stroke Unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center

    Fast action following a stroke cannot only save a life but speed recovery and a return to quality of life. At McLeod Regional Medical Center, the Neuroscience Care Unit in Florence stands ready to treat stroke patients. McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence is home to a specialized 20-bed neurology and stroke unit – the first in the region dedicated exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of people who have suffered a stroke.

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    Our nurses, are specially trained to spot subtle changes in patients suffering from stroke which is imperative in the treatment of stroke.

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  • TCAR – A Big Name in Stroke Care

    Ischemic strokes account for 80 to 90% of strokes. An estimated 20 to 30% of those are caused by blockages in the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain. If left untreated these blockages can lead to a stroke. McLeod has a stroke treatment to clear plaque in the arteries called Transcarotid Artery Revascularization or TCAR. TCAR is performed through a small incision at the neckline. It implements a system to protect any plaque that may break loose during the procedure from reaching the brain and potentially causing a stroke. A stent is then placed that holds the carotid artery open to allow normal blood flow back to the brain and reducing the patient’s risk for stroke.