Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center to Provide Speedier Service for Strokes

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton will form the initial stroke system network for San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties. 

Although PVHMC is in Los Angeles County, many patients come from San Bernardino County. The hospital earned its certification as a Primary Stroke Center from the Joint Commission in January, which qualified it to be a participant in the Los Angeles County Stroke Centers network.

“Hospitals approved as participants in stroke center networks are linked together to improve response times, treatment and overall outcomes for our patients,” said Deborah Keasler, director of PVHMC’s heart and vascular center.  “At the Stead Heart and Vascular Center we know that ‘time is brain’ and every second counts. We have invested many hours and resources to best meet the needs of stroke patients.”

With the new network, first responders in the field and emergency medical personnel will take suspected stroke victims to the nearest hospital in the system.  

“Each year, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death,” said Dr. Bhupat Desai, medical director of PVHMC’s stroke program. “On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. Someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes.”

Doctors treating suspected stroke victims need to view a CT scan of the brain in order to know which type of stroke has occurred: an ischemic stroke or a stroke caused by a blood vessel bursting in the brain. Ischemic strokes account for 80 percent of all strokes, and are caused by a clot in a blood vessel of the brain which cuts off the flow of blood and oxygen to brain cells. This type of stroke usually responds well to a clot-busting medicine known as tPA.

“The goal is to get an ischemic stroke victim from the emergency room door to the administration of tPA within an hour,” said Desai.

More information on strokes:

Stroke symptoms are not generally well known among the general public and recognition of a stroke can significantly aid in the time it takes from recognition of symptoms to the administration of treatment. Stroke is an emergency which requires FAST action; know the signs and symptoms:

F A facial droop or uneven smile

A Arm numbness or arm weakness

S Speech slurred or difficulty speaking or understanding others

T Time – Call 911 immediately upon symptoms to get to the nearest certified primary stroke center