Posted: 5/23/2018
Teaching patients to recognize stroke symptoms FAST can save lives
Among the many myths about strokes are several that could prove fatal, according to stroke experts at Parkland Health & Hospital System. Educating stroke patients and their families is vitally important, they say, because many people falsely believe that having had one stroke, they will never have another or that if stroke symptoms go away, they no longer need to see a doctor.
To ensure stroke patients understand their risks and can take swift action if another stroke occurs, Parkland recently initiated a quality improvement project called “FAST Education and Retention for Strokes,” designed to teach every hospitalized stroke patient and key family members the signs and symptoms of stroke before discharge. Parkland nurses follow up post-discharge with phone calls to check on patients’ progress and reinforce their knowledge of stroke symptoms.
Research conducted at Parkland in 2017 revealed that only 62.5 percent of Parkland stroke patients and family members were able to name the signs and symptoms when discharged. To improve patients’ understanding of their risks, the new stroke education initiative was launched in January 2018 and more than 178 patients have been engaged. In FY 2017, Parkland cared for more than 500 patients with a primary diagnosis of stroke and more than 200 with secondary diagnosis of stroke.
Using the acronym “FAST,” nurses begin educating patients about stroke signs in both English and Spanish shortly after admission, repeating the lesson frequently during the patient’s stay and following up to test their knowledge after patients go home.
The acronym “FAST” is a quick and easy way to remember stroke signs:
Face – does one side of the face droop?
Arms – does one arm drift downward?
Speech – is speech slurred or strange?
Time – if you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1- immediately
“Stroke is a medical emergency and every minute counts. If a family member recognizes the onset of symptoms, they can quickly call 911 and get life-saving help and hopefully prevent serious long-lasting disabilities,” said Jennifer Cross, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, Stroke Program Coordinator at Parkland.
Gerald Morin, MBA, BS, RN, CCRN, associate unit manager of Parkland’s Neuroscience ICU, is leading the quality improvement education project. “One in four stroke survivors has another stroke, so as nurses we are committed to helping our patients recover and avoid future complications by knowing what they can do to improve their health.”
“Perhaps the most dangerous myth of all is the belief that stroke cannot be prevented,” said Alejandro Magadan, MD, Medical Director of Parkland’s Stroke Team and Assistant Professor of Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
In fact, up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable, Dr. Magadan said. “Once a patient has experienced a stroke, they’re more likely to have a recurrence. We want to make sure that stroke patients and families can recognize stroke symptoms so they can seek immediate medical help. This education project by Parkland nurses will definitely save lives.”
May is Stroke Awareness Month and Dr. Magadan says people can lower their stroke risks by having regular checkups and making lifestyle changes that can help prevent stroke, dementia or memory loss. “Staying physically active, keeping cholesterol and blood pressure under control, eating healthy foods and stopping smoking are simple steps that can save lives,” he said.
For more information about Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com