Stroke centers open in San Francisco

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

September 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Citing a 40 percent chance of significant recovery if a stroke is treated within three hours, health officials announced today the opening of several "stroke centers" in San Francisco hospitals.

The centers, which are dispersed throughout the city, are designed to treat the blood clots and malfunctions that cause a stroke, which leads to numbness of limbs, loss of speech ability and even death.

Treated at an early stage, specifically within three hours, death can be reduced to a disability and paralysis can be upgraded to full health.

On the other hand, if a stroke is not treated, the effects are almost always permanent, according to Dr. John Brown, medical director of the San Francisco Emergency Medical Services Agency.

"San Francisco is unique because it's the only city in California where so many hospitals are coordinating to treat strokes," Brown said.

Health officials have done much in the last four years to train emergency medical technicians and other urgent care workers to treat strokes, Brown said.

Friday marked the first day, however, that hospitals citywide joined together to combine training with new technology and increased education.

The new equipment includes CT scanners and rapid diagnostic equipment. In addition, trained staff including neurologists will be on hand.

Brown said it also important that the public understands the symptoms of a stroke.

A stroke can happen to anyone regardless of age, Brown said, and its onset can be recognized by the appearance of one or more of three symptoms: sudden development of numbness, especially in an arm or leg; difficulty speaking or understanding spoken words; and the inability to recognize your environment, such as not noticing where you are or recognizing close friends or relatives.

Participating hospitals include the California Pacific Medical Center campuses at Davies and Pacific; Chinese Hospital; Kaiser Permanente San Francisco; General Hospital; Seton Medical Center; Saint Francis Memorial Hospital; St. Mary's Medical Center; and University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

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