Certified Stroke Center

Signs, Symptoms and Risk Factors of Stroke

You and your family should learn the warning signs of stroke today. If you or someone you know has any of these signs, a stroke may be occurring:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

These warning signs can be remembered easily by the acronym ACT F.A.S.T.:

Face - facial droop; uneven smile
Arm - arm numbness, arm weakness
Speech - slurred speech, difficulty speaking or understanding
Time - call 911 and get to the hospital immediately

Stroke risk factors include:

  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Physical inactivity and obesity
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Family history of stroke

Get help immediately if you suspect a stroke may be occurring. Call 911 and have the ambulance go to the nearest certified stroke center, such as St. Dominic's.

 About St. Dominic's Certified Stroke Center

St. Dominic's Acute Stroke Services received a Certificate of Distinction from The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center in 2010. St. Dominic's Certified Primary Stroke Center offers rapid diagnosis, high-tech intervention, expert care and intensive rehabilitation in a caring, compassionate setting. Under the leadership of neurology Ruth Fredericks, M.D., Medical Director, St. Dominic's is capable of delivering the full spectrum of care to seriously ill patients with stroke and cerebrovascular disease.

Services

The chief component of the program is a highly collaborative, expertly-skilled team of clinical professionals who direct and provide evidence-based care for every stroke patient. The program provides care to the adult population of central Mississippi and outlying rural areas. Services provided include:

  • Emergency Department
  • Hospitalist Medical
  • Adult Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Acute Rehabilitation and Outpatient Rehabilitation
  • Critical Care

Goals

St. Dominic's Certified Primary Stroke Center strives to (1) coordinate timely identification and transport of stroke patients to the emergency department, (2) deliver timely and accurate diagnosis, (3) provide a comprehensive range of interventions and treatments, (4) provide a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services, (5) provide individual patient and community education on prevention strategies, early identification and appropriate response.

Contact

To admit a patient to St. Dominic Hospital, call 601.200.2777.

For more information about St. Dominic's Certified Stroke Center, contact St. Dominic's stroke coordinator at 601.200.3699.