EASTON — This year, county councils in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties have presented proclamations to University of Maryland Shore Regional Health’s Stroke Committee. These proclamations designated these counties as “Stroke Smart” counties.
“One of the main goals of the Stroke Smart initiative is to increase public awareness of stroke signs and symptoms and highlight the importance of calling 911 at the first sign of a stroke,” said Nicole Leonard, a neuroscience specialist and stroke coordinator for Shore Regional Health. “These Stroke Smart proclamations reinforce our shared commitment to that.”
Rena Sukhdeo Singh, medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, has been working with local governments to obtain these proclamations since early winter 2024.
UM Shore Medical Center at Easton is a designated primary stroke center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems. The center treats more than 400 patients per year.
“University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is extremely excited to have received Stroke Smart proclamations for all five of the counties our hospital system serves,” Singh said. “This is a big accomplishment for our dedicated stroke team, our emergency medical services partners and our communities. These proclamations symbolize our commitment to providing stroke education to our communities; including identifying stroke symptoms, risk factors and what to do in the event of a potential stroke.”
As part of the Stroke Smart initiative, Shore Regional Health nursing team members will train community members throughout the five-county region to identify the signs and symptoms of a stroke and activate emergency services by calling 911 at the first sign of a stroke. Additional training will focus on stroke prevention, how to prevent a repeat stroke event, rehabilitation, how to move forward after a stroke and caregiver support of a loved one following a stroke.
“Early identification is key to preventing the long-term effects of a stroke. Our nursing team members are excited to get out into our communities and provide stroke identification education within public school curricula, nursing homes, community and senior centers, churches and other places where people gather and get information,” said Danielle Wilson, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Shore Regional. “We thank our local governments and community members for this opportunity to provide stroke identification education and additional support to the region we serve.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0