New Mobile Stroke Unit Aims To Save Lives In Oak Park

OAK PARK, IL — Oak Park is adding a custom-built mobile stroke unit that will be able to give patients emergency care outside of the hospital. The Rush Mobile Stroke Unit is one of just six such of its kind in the U.S., Oak Park officials said in a news release.

Critical care registered nurses in the mobile stroke unit will be equipped to perform CT scans on patients and send the images to radiologists at Rush Oak Park Hospital. Radiologists will then work with neurologists to determine whether the patient is having a stroke and to instruct first responders on the best treatment.

“This ability is crucial, since stroke treatment decisions depend on CT scan imaging of the brain," Dr. Demetrius Lopes, Rush Comprehensive Stroke Care's surgical director said in the release.

Rush officials said they hope to offer the mobile stroke unit in other nearby cities in the future.

Village Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb called the new Rush Mobile Stroke Unit an "exciting advancement."

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