Sutter Lakeside Hospital kicked off its campaign to raise $156,000 for its stroke telemedicine program in December 2009, according to Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation Director Tammi Silva.
The hospital is just $2,000 short of its goal to have the state-of-the-art equipment – including a camera, screen, computers and technology infrastructure – in place by January, Silva said.
As a result, the hospital is asking for community assistance to wrap up the campaign for the equipment, which officials said will make a life-saving difference in the care they can offer local stroke patients.
Silva said Sutter Lakeside treats an average of 100 stroke victims annually.
Dr. Vivek Reddy, medical director of Sutter Lakeside Hospital's imaging department, vice chief of staff and a brand new member of the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation Board, said stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.
“Generally, it's a disease of the old,” he said, noting that because of Lake County's large number senior population, the technology would be extremely beneficial to the community.
Dr. Bruce Deas, medical director for Sutter Lakeside's emergency department, said stroke is a major cause of death for people age 65 and over, after heart disease, nationwide.
“It is a big issue for us,” he said.
The National Stroke Association said stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable, the group said.
Deas said 85 percent of all strokes are the result of a damaged blood vessel or a blood clot. “It's all about getting rid of that clot if you can.”
Dr. Karen Tait, Lake County's health officer, said the 2010 County Health Profiles included an objective of no more than 50 age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 people for cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke.
“Lake County actually met it,” Tait said of the goal.
The report, which covered 2006 to 2008, showed Lake County's age-adjusted death rate was 46.2, Tait said.
“The really good news is that represents a decrease of 31.5 percent,” she said.
From 2003 to 2005, the death rate for cerebrovascular disease was 67.4, according to Tait.
“We have really seen a significant improvement,” she said, but added, “We still rank 41 out of the 58 counties in the ranking, so we're not doing as well as 40 others.”
Deas said the new telemedicine equipment will reside in the hospital's emergency department.
Currently, many serious stroke patients who come to the hospital have to be transported elsewhere for care, Deas said.
The new equipment will allow Sutter Lakeside's physicians to use telemedicine to connect with the cutting edge stroke treatment team at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, who Deas said is “an amazing group to work with.”
It's important to treat stroke patients as soon as possible, Deas said.
He explained that with strokes, “Time is brain.” In other words, the longer a patient waits for treatment, the longer critical blood flow is kept from the brain, which results in brain damage and other long-term affects.
When someone thinks they've had a stroke – they experience weakness on their left side, slurred speech or are unable to speak – it's critical to go to the hospital immediately, otherwise, “You take yourself out of the window for time of treatment,” Deas said.
At Sutter Lakeside, when a stroke patient comes into the hospital, physicians do a “code stroke” alert in which important tests – labs, CT scans and EKGs – are completed within an hour's time, he said.
Reddy said his department has brand new MRI and CT equipment critical in the work of diagnosing stroke patients.
“The whole department now is digital. We're filmless,” he said.
As soon as Deas or another doctor has examined a patient and diagnosed stroke, the patient is immediately brought in for a CT scan, Reddy said. His department conducts the imaging and then relays the results to help doctors decide on treatment.
When the telemedicine equipment is in place, Deas said they anticipate being able to go over cases and test results with California Pacific Medical Center doctors immediately, in a highly interactive, online process. That will help them make quicker, more exact decisions about what treatments – such as clot-busting medications – patients should receive.
“We can try to decrease the amount of damage that happens to your brain from the stroke,” Deas said.
While in the past doctors could only assess the damage afterward, the new technology puts physicians in a more proactive, life-saving position, according to Deas.
“It's going to be really seamless,” he said of the new equipment and accompanying process.
Reddy said he's been very involved in the fundraising for the project. “It's really a valuable asset to this small community.”
Deas said stroke results from health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and heredity. With the exception of heredity, the other risk factors are controllable, he said.
He said people can adopt healthier habits to help avoid stroke.
If, however, a stroke occurs, he emphasized the need for immediate action, both from patients and doctors.
“One of the problems with treatment of stroke is that the vast majority of people who show up don't meet the criteria of treatment because they've waited too long,” he said.
Deas added, “If you have symptoms that look like a stroke, got to the hospital now.”
Donations to assist with purchasing the equipment can be made with a credit card by phone at 707-262-5189 or online at www.sutterlakeside.org/giving/telemedicine.html , or with a check to Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation for the "Stroke Telemedicine Campaign" and mailed to 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, Ca 95453 c/o Tammi Silva.
To request a Stroke Pledge Sheet, to ask questions or to make a donation, call Silva at 707-262-5189 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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