CY-FAIR HOSPITAL ACHIEVES RECOGNITION AS A PRIMARY STROKE FACILITY FROM THE DSHS

Houston, Texas – Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital has been recognized as a Level II Primary Stroke Facility from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The hospital was recognized at an event hosted by the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/Trauma Systems Coordination and awarded the prestigious designation.

When someone is having a stroke, they need prompt emergency medical care. During a stroke blood supply to the brain is cut off or disrupted, causing part of the brain to go without the oxygen-rich blood it needs. The longer the brain goes without blood, the greater the chance a disability will occur. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the number one cause of disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds.

“The purpose of our new stroke facility designation program is to establish a framework for developing a voluntary, statewide emergency treatment system for stroke victims,” said Jane Guerrero, Director of the Office of EMS/Trauma Systems Coordination. “Patterned after our well-established trauma system, stroke designation will allow stroke victims to be rapidly transported to and treated in appropriate stroke-treatment facilities.”
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital’s comprehensive cardiovascular and stroke program has a protocol driven and systematic approach to patient management allowing physicians to reduce the time to treatment during the early stages of a heart attack or stoke, when treatments are most effective.

“Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital has demonstrated that our program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” said Cindy Hudgens, RN, BSN, CNRN, Cardiovascular and Stroke Coordinator of the hospital. “Our team is committed to clinical excellence, and the Level II Primary Stroke Facility designation is proof of their tremendous efforts.”

The Stroke Team at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, a team of specially trained physicians, nurses and staff, is called to action when a patient is exhibiting symptoms of a stroke. The team consults with highly trained neurologists, called Specialists on Call, via an advanced telecommunications system, referred to as telemedicine, to review each stroke patient’s condition and to quickly establish a course of treatment with the qualified specialists.

Specialists on Call provides consultation support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to hospitals and on-site physicians nationwide, with access to experts in emergency neurology and stroke care. Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital is the only hospital in northwest Houston working with Specialists on Call for stroke treatment, an important factor in being able to offer quality stroke care to the community.

In addition to designation as a Level II Primary Stroke Facility, Cy-Fair Hospital is also certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center.