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Services
St. Charles Hospital
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Stroke Program
St. Charles Hospital's is a New York State Department of Health designated Stroke Center. This designation means the hospital and staff passed a rigorous inspection by the Department of Health and have special education in the care of stroke patients. It also means medications and equipment needed to provide expert stroke care are immediately available at St. Charles.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and affects 700,000 individuals annually, according to the American Heart Association. The experts on St. Charles Hospital's stroke team believe awareness, education and risk factors are crucial in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stroke.
The team, headed by neurologist, Michael Sauter, MD, offers Stroke Awareness and Prevention lectures to organizations throughout Suffolk County.
When a stroke does occur, St. Charles Hospital Stroke Team is ready to provide immediate intervention utilizing the most advanced diagnostic techniques including CT Scan, MRI and electronencephalogram. Clot busting medications are administered to appropriate patients.
After stroke, one of the most challenging issues that patients face is regaining mobility. St. Charles Hospital's renowned Rehabilitation Department provides the most highly skilled rehabilitation in the region including physical, occupational and speech therapy. Advanced technology includes IREX, a virtual reality game that works on balance and coordination and NESS H200, a brace like device that fits over the forearm and hand and utilizes electrical stimulus that contract muscles in the hand allowing patients to grasp objects once again.
What is a stroke?
It is a sudden interruption in the blood supply to the brain caused by a blockage of arteries to the brain or by bleeding into brain tissue.
Warning Signs
The signs of a stroke depend on the side of the brain that is affected. Each person may have different warning signs. The most common sign is a sudden weakness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Other signs include:
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone you know has these signs, call 911 and get medical help immediately.
For more information on the Stroke Program at St. Charles or for information on a free community lecture, please call (631) 474-6445.
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