12 Bringing health care news to your home From car crashes to farm accidents, trauma can happen in the blink of an eye. So can strokes, which are the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States. So, it’s comforting to know that — should you ever need them — trauma and stroke experts stand ready to provide lifesaving care right here in Columbus. Stroke program Columbus Community Hospital provides rapid evaluation and treatment of strokes, which most often occur when a clot blocks the brain’s circulation, causing brain cells to die until the stroke is treated. “Time is brain,” said Kevin Montgomery, DO, medical director of the emergency department at CCH. “The sooner you’re evaluated by someone who’s trained to recognize and intervene in a stroke, the more likely you are to have a fuller recovery and less chance of death.” An entire team swings into gear when a suspected stroke patient arrives at CCH. “We see people before they’re even taken off the stretcher,” Montgomery said. In consultation with a Nebraska Medicine telestroke neurologist, CCH teams can swiftly evaluate patients and administer clot-busting medicine. But the medicine works best within three hours of a stroke. “It’s important that patients get to our facility quickly,” said Natalie Wingard, RN, the hospital’s stroke coordinator. “We can complete those interventions, hopefully limit disability and provide support to these patients and their families.” Stroke signs occur suddenly and include: ● Numbness or weakness on one side of the body. ● Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech. ● Vision problems. ● Trouble walking, dizziness or loss of coordination. ● Severe headache. Trauma care As a Level III Trauma Center, CCH can address many traumatic injuries promptly, or stabilize the most critical patients for rapid transfer to a Level II or I trauma center. Blunt force trauma, crush injuries, severe bleeding and broken bones are among the more common conditions treated by trauma team doctors, nurses and surgeons. It can make a big difference to have highly prepared stroke and trauma teams right here in our community. “We’ve seen countless times where these programs have saved lives,” said Monica Martinez, RN, the hospital’s trauma program manager. “We’ve seen stroke patients who have survived with minimal disability, and trauma patients who would have lost their lives had they not gotten the stabilization that they needed from us.” Lifesaving care in Columbus Stroke and trauma experts available around the clock Care when you need it most Find out more about our lifesaving care on our “Emergency Department & Trauma Services” page, under “Services,” at columbushosp.org.
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