LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside received a disease-specific industry certification recognizing it as a primary stroke center on Friday, Jan. 16.

This means the hospital offers high-quality, immediate treatment on par with leading stroke centers in San Francisco.

“This is critical since we serve a remote population,” said Nicole Lamm, Sutter Lakeside Emergency Department nurse manager and stroke coordinator. “A stroke occurs when blood is unable to get to a part of your brain, and from its onset 32,000 brain cells die every second. There’s no time to drive to San Francisco to see a neurosurgeon.”

Sutter Lakeside works closely with the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco on stroke cases.

Using telemedicine, a CPMC neurosurgeon can perform a bedside assessment just as he or she would in person, while patients benefit from faster, more personalized local care.

The primary stroke center designation is especially meaningful in Lake County, which has a high incidence of stroke in part due to its large retired and low-income populations.

According to Lamm, the biggest problem with stroke treatment is that people don’t get to the hospital fast enough.

Men wait an average of five hours to seek medical help, and on average women wait much longer – sometimes more than 24 hours.

To be most effective, treatment should be administered within three hours.

“We tell people to think FAST about the key signs of stroke: “F is for facial drooping (on one side); A is for arm or leg weakness; S is for speech changes; and T reminds us that time is of the essence,” Lamm says. “If you see any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. This isn’t just about transportation; it gives us time to pull up the patient’s medical history to prepare the most effective, expedient course of treatment.”

Stroke victims often don’t realize they’re having a stroke, which is why they wait so long to seek help. It’s important to share the signs of stroke with caretakers and family members, including children.

“We also want people to know that many strokes are preventable,” Lamm said. “Key risk factors include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is our first and best defense.”

The primary stroke center certification comes from The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs throughout the United States.

The hospital has been working toward this goal for approximately two years. It received the certification after passing an onsite review by a Joint Commission field reviewer who assessed clinical procedures and outcomes, performance measures, leadership commitment and patient-education efforts.

“The certification demonstrates our commitment to meeting the most stringent performance standards for our patients,” said Sutter Lakeside Chief Administrative Officer Siri Nelson. “It all boils down to consistent care and better outcomes.”

To learn more about Sutter Lakeside, visit www.sutterlakeside.org/ .