Stroke awareness and prevention is a priority for the Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center. We facilitate stroke education in four ways:
For Patients and Families
Education begins the first day of diagnosis. Just like stroke treatment, education is individualized to meet patient and family needs. Each patient receives a stroke informational packet that includes the Stroke Connection magazine with a one-year free subscription, “What You Need to Know About Stroke” pamphlet, a listing of regional stroke support agencies and groups, and other patient-focused brochures. Educational videos are available through the patient's bedside TV. Also, our staff of dedicated physicians and nurses are available to help answer any questions you may have.
For the Surrounding Community
Rapid response stroke team members are available to provide ongoing education for our referring hospitals and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff. We provide feedback to our EMS partners on a regular basis to help them identify patients suspected of having a stroke. Our stroke team members participate in community events such as blood pressure screenings and health fairs to help people identify risk factors and make positive lifestyle modifications. And we organize and teach in our annual ‘Brain Attack’ symposium each fall to disseminate news on the latest advances in stroke treatment and prevention to health care professionals in the greater St. Louis area. We also participate in the hospital's Speakers’ Bureau.
For the Hospital Staff
The acute stroke units have specially trained nurses for Neurology and Neurosurgery Critical Care and general stroke care. The other members of the stroke team include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists and dietitians. All members of the stroke team are required to have annual stroke education to maintain certification.
For Rapid Response Stroke Team Members
Through ongoing education, such as the bi-monthly stroke conferences and national conferences and research meetings, stroke team members consistently evaluate their efficiency and accuracy in caring for stroke patients. They use the information gained to continually improve the care provided to stroke patients and their families.
To find out more about the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Stroke Center, call 855.925.0631.