Medical City Becomes Primary Stroke Center

Dr. Vallabh Janardhan was recently interviewed on Good Morning Texas.

Medical City recently joined the Dallas Stroke Network as a Primary Stroke Center.  Now, patients have another option for acute stroke care that may prove to be life-saving when suffering from a condition where every minutes that passes can lead to the permanent loss of 1.9 million brain cells.

Strokes, often reffered to "brain attacks," are the nation's third cause of death and leading cause of long-term disability.  Someone experiences a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies from a stroke every 5.1 minutes.  As a Primary Stroke Center, the multidisciplinary stroke team at Medical City is equipped to acutely treat stroke patients with the FDA approved clot dissolving medication, tPA (tissue plasminogen activator).  This treatment can dramatically increase the chance of recovery after stroke, but must be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset.  The Emergency Department has implemented and Acute Stroke Protocol to ensure the rapid evaluation and treatment of patients who are potential candidates for this treatment.

Stroke care at Medical City extends far beyond the Emergency Department.  The Neurovascular Intensive Care Unit and 5 South Neuroscience Unit provide specialized care for stroke patients that is delivered by a truly multidisciplinary team comprised of stroke nurses, therapists, dieticians and social workers.  A dedicated Stroke Coordinator, Debbie Estes RN, facilitates the entire spectrum of care provided to patients.  The stroke care provided to patients is based upon scientific evidence and nationally accepted guidelines.  Particular emphasis is focused on education of patients and families about stroke treatment and prevention.

Dr. Lise Labiche, vascular neurologist and medical director of the stroke program is passionate about educating the medical community and the population at-large about Medical City's capabilities to treat stroke patients.  She is also leading the effort to debunk debilitating myths related to strokes.  For instance, strokes have often been generalized as a disease that affects men.  In reality, 61% of the stroke deaths in Texas occur in women.

Dr. Labiche received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans.  She completed a neurology residency and a fellowship in cerebrovascular disease at the University of Texas-Houston.  Prior to joining Medical City, Dr. Labiche served as medical director and acute stroke unit director at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.

Learn the signs of stroke and act F.A.S.T.

F.A.S.T.  pre-hospital stroke screening tool