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| Princeton Celebrates Stroke Accreditation with Ameri-Brain Exhibit |
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| Local News Headlines |
| Written by Jessica Jones |
| Monday, 06 August 2012 13:46 |
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Princeton Baptist Medical Center hosted the Ameri-Brain exhibit in the Haynes Auditorium on July 26, in celebration of the first hospital in Birmingham to receive stroke accreditation from the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The Ameri-Brain exhibit made its debut at Princeton and featured a fully interactive giant inflatable brain. Visitors were able to walk around inside the exhibit and observe the various functions of the brain. “Ameri-Brain is a giant inflatable human brain including the lobes and cerebellum. It shows all the areas of the brain that control what we do every day,” said Jennifer Dodd, marketing and public relations manager. The 16-foot wide, 10-foot tall inflatable model allowed visitors to take a tour of the human brain. Posted on the inside and outside of the brain were signs that informed readers about the various functions of the brain, but also the diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, epilepsy and migraines. Dodd said that the exhibit serves as a learning tool, not only for the general public, but for the hospital staff as well. However, the exhibition day also served as a celebratory moment in honor of Princeton’s Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke. “[Princeton is a] primary stroke center accredited by the Joint Commission. That accreditation is only given to two hospitals that had to go through a rigorous process to meet certain criteria,” Dodd said. Dodd explained that one of the primary criteria that set Princeton apart from other hospitals is their unique method of response. “The first 60 minutes when someone is having a stroke is crucial. There’s a saying that ‘time is brain.’ What that means is time is critical because the brain is not getting the blood it needs and will begin to deteriorate,” Dodd said. Debbie Jones, a member of the stroke team and quality improvement, agrees that the key to preventing brain loss is reacting quickly to a patient who may be having a stroke. “A lot of people don’t come as soon as they have symptoms,” Jones said. Jones recommends that, if possible, patients record the exact time of the stroke. According to Dodd, when the hospital receives a call concerning a stroke patient, “a stroke alert is sent out to the hospital departments to prepare them for the patient.” The patient is assessed after they arrive at the hospital and the stroke team decides if the patient is able to receive a tissue plasminogen activator or t-PA, a “clot busting drug.” It is also advised that patients know the signs and symptoms of a stroke to increase chances of survival. To learn more about Princeton’s full accreditation and treatment visit http://www.bhsala.com/. To learn more about stroke symptoms visit www.stroke.org. |
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