Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould has been designated an Arkansas Stroke Ready Hospital by the Arkansas Department of Health, according to a hospital announcement Wednesday.
The designation recognizes hospitals that meet state standards for timely stroke care, including emergency evaluation, assessment and treatment, telemedicine when appropriate and coordination with emergency medical services.
Hospital officials said the recognition follows months of preparation by emergency department staff, physicians, nurses and other clinical team members.
“While I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment, what means the most to me is what this designation represents for our community,” said Lacey Wheeler, the hospital’s emergency department director and stroke coordinator.
Wheeler said Baptist Paragould serves patients throughout Greene and Clay counties and neighboring communities in Arkansas and Missouri.
“As a Stroke Ready Hospital, we are better positioned to provide timely evaluation and treatment for patients experiencing a stroke, while connecting them with the appropriate level of care when needed,” Wheeler said.
The designation follows five American Heart Association awards the hospital received in August, including the Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Bronze and Rural Stroke Silver awards.
Stroke warning signs include sudden balance problems, vision changes, facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty. The American Stroke Association uses the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T. to help people recognize those symptoms, with the final letter standing for “Time to Call 911.” Anyone experiencing or observing stroke symptoms should call 911 immediately.
Formerly Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, the 129-bed hospital merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care in March.
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