NARH offers free stroke assessment program, other activities scheduled
NORTH ADAMS - Residents in Northern Berkshire County have an opportunity to understand their risk for stroke in May, when North Adams Regional Hospital will offer a free stroke assessment.The community stroke assessments will be held at local libraries. The dates are Tuesday, May 6, at the North Adams Public Library; Thursday, May 8 at the Williamstown Public Library; and Tuesday, May 13 at the Adams Public Library. A stroke assessment team will be onsite at each location from 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration is required. Community members interested in participating should call 413-664-5326 for an appointment.
The stroke assessment will include a blood test to measure cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Weight and blood pressure will also be recorded. A brief medical history including smoking and family history will be taken. The information will be used to evaluate an individual’s risk for stroke.
The blood test will occur on May 6, 8, and 13. Immediate results will not be available. Community members will be asked to return to the libraries on June 3, 4 and 5 where a North Adams Regional Hospital Registered Nurse will discuss their results.
The community stroke assessments are part of a month of activities being offered through Northern Berkshire Healthcare as part of National Stroke Awareness Month. In addition to the stroke assessments, there will also be an open house for the community Stroke Support Group and a REACH Community Health Forum at the North Adams Public Library where experts in stroke treatment will speak and be available for questions.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health designated North Adams Regional Hospital as a stroke treatment center in 2005. The hospital uses state of the art “telemedicine” to treat potential stroke patients. Using the telemedicine system, physicians at North Adams Regional Hospital are able to consult with stroke neurologists at Massachusetts General Hospital through real time video and audio connections between the two hospitals.
“We are very excited to bring stroke education to the community,” said Joyce Mickanin, RN, Director of Emergency Nursing. “This is an important part of our community education initiative.”
REACH Community Health Foundation will participate in stroke awareness events by hosting a forum at the North Adams Public Library on Tuesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. The forum will be taped for Northern Berkshire Community Television’s Channel 15 and will be aired on May 25 at 3 p.m. The forum will feature a panel of stroke treatment experts. A question and answer period will follow directly after the program.
The Stroke Awareness events will conclude with an open house for the Stroke Support Group. The open house is scheduled for Thursday, May 22 at noon in the VNA/Hospice Community Room on Curran Highway. Light refreshments will be served. When the group begins to meet on a monthly basis survivors, family, friends and caregivers are welcome to attend. Each month will feature a speaker and time for “caring and sharing.”
Disability and death related to a stroke can be prevented with early treatment, but only if loved ones and caregivers learn to recognize the sometimes-subtle signs and symptoms of stroke and call 9-1-1 immediately. Seventy-five percent of strokes can be recognized using the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Stroke Heroes Act FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, and Time) system to call 9-1-1:
· Face: Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile.
· Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.
· Speech: Does their speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.
· Time: If you observe any of these symptoms, then it’s time to call 9-1-1.
For more information or to register for the community stroke assessment, please call 413-664-5326.
