Conroe - Montgomery Edition | July 2023

HEALTH CARE

Stroke care eorts increase in Montgomery County HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe is applying to become the fth stroke-designated hospital in Montgomery County—a comprehensive stroke center through Det Norske Veritas group, which is the highest level of certication DNV oers. can ensure everybody in Montgomery County has access to high-level stroke care.” Campbell said with HCA Conroe pursuing a BY PEYTON MACKENZIE

IDENTIFYING A STRO According to HCA

Houston Healthcare, there are more than 795,000 strokes that occur in the U.S. each year. When assessing whether a stroke is occurring, people can use the BE FAST acronym. B Has the person experienced a sudden loss of balance or trouble walking? Balance E Has the person experienced vision problems or loss? Eyes F Does the person’s face droop when they smile? Face A When asked to lift their arms, does one arm drift down? Arms S Does the person sound confused? Are they unable to repeat simple sentences? Speech T If the person shows any of these stroke symptoms, call 911. Time SOURCE: HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARECOMMUNITY IMPACT

stroke designation, it gives residents in the north- ern part of the county more options for treatment. HCA Conroe CEO Matt Davis said the hospital has already been established as a primary stroke center, but the comprehensive stroke center designation provides certication that it is equipped to handle stroke-related calls. Robin Novakovic, committee chair for the Gov- ernor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council Stroke Committee, said hospitals are unable to operate in the capacity of a stroke-designated facility with- out the certication. She said it is expected that patients suspected of having a stroke are taken to hospitals with a designation. Davis said HCA Conroe has expanded its sta, recruited more doctors, upgraded equipment and renovated new areas to meet the increasing general demands of the growing community. With a growing number of residents and visitors, Davis said they have seen more patients across various medical conditions. “HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe is committed to investing in stroke care and all other levels of care within our hospital,” he said.

James Campbell, Montgomery County Hospital District chief, said in Montgomery County there are four comprehensive stroke centers—Houston Methodist The Woodlands, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, CHI St. Luke’s The Woodlands and HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood—with Conroe’s hospital in active pursuit to be the next on the list. Campbell said although data shows there hasn’t been an increase in reported strokes, the MCHD estimates there are 100 strokes a month being reported from the eld to the hospital. To be a comprehensive stroke center, Campbell said a hospital is equipped with the technology, physicians and stroke care team to treat strokes. He said patients who are experiencing a stroke would need to be treated at a stroke-designated hospital for the highest level of care. “Our mission is ... we want there to be equal care across the county,” Campbell said. “So if we have ve comprehensive stroke centers, we would love for them all to perform at a high level so we

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