Every three years, healthcare facilities designated as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals (ASRH) undergo a review and site visit process with the Minnesota Department of Health to renew their designation with the State of Minnesota. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, site visits were conducted remotely. During the remote site visit, tours are conducted of the stroke alert process, including discussions with stroke program leadership. At Murray County Medical Center, this leadership includes a Stroke Coordinator (a nurse in the Emergency Department) and the ER Director. The review analyzes the total patient experience for a suspected stroke patient from hospital arrival, through ED to CT, and finally the transfer to tertiary care. CT, otherwise known as ‘computed tomography’ or a CAT scan, is a noninvasive procedure that uses X-ray equipment for imaging of the body.
Following the review, Murray County Medical Center was designated as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by the Minnesota Department of Health. MDH’s final report stated “Murray County Medical Center has a well-established process for care of the acute stroke patient”. Murray County Medical Center includes multiple departments within its Stroke Team to enhance patient experience and care including ED providers and nurses, laboratory, radiology, ambulance, pharmacy, and many others.
“Our stroke team at Murray County Medical Center has developed, and continue to work on, an efficient and smooth process for all of our stroke patients. This is a serious emergency that we do not take lightly. If you or a loved one suspect a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately to have ambulance transport to the ER. A quick response makes all the difference” stated Emmie Lolkus, an ED nurse at MCMC.
In addition to their onsite stroke resources, Murray County Medical Center also partners with Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls to provide telestroke services to patients. All Murray County Medical Center employees, and new hires, also undergo onboarding education and training on stroke symptoms and identification to further their mission of providing Compassionate and Exceptional Health Care.