Atlanta hospital designated as a Level 3 stroke facility

ATLANTA, Texas — CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital-Atlanta announced Friday it has been re-designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Support (Level III) Stroke Facility.

The recognition affirms the hospital’s status among those in Trauma Service Area-F, continuing its tradition of providing lifesaving care to the people of the surrounding region.

“This Level III Stroke re-designation with the State of Texas reiterates our commitment to offering excellent clinical services to our area.” said Jason Rounds, president of CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System.

The Atlanta facility has a stroke team composed of stroke-certified registered nurses, ER physicians, and features a 24/7 CT, lab, teleneurology services and Tissue Plasminogen Activator “clot buster” capabilities, officials said in a news release.

The team has spent “endless hours” to ensure the care is high-quality, said Brett Kinman, interim administrator at the Atlanta hospital. “The team’s commitment to training, to our transport plans, to communication is all focused on making sure our patients get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.”

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association. Each year, 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“In stroke care, there is a phrase we always refer to: ‘time is brain,’ which means being able to respond quickly and skillfully is paramount to saving lives,” said RN Heather Biddy, program manager of the Trauma/Stroke/Chest Pain unit. “It is critically important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke … hesitation to seek care can result in death or significant disability.”