SGCMH is a Member of the MidAmerica Stroke Network

The Network provides member hospitals with 24-hour access to neuro-specialists, express transportation services for stroke patients, and state-of-the art technology for consultative and diagnostic services. In turn, the Network’s member hospitals must show a continued commitment to stroke services, resources and quality monitoring.

Saint Louis University Hospital, a certified Stroke Center of Excellence by the Joint Commission and home to the MidAmerica Stroke Network, created the Network in late 2007 to promote quality stroke care measures throughout the region. Employing medical consultations remotely via enhanced visual technologies, SLUCare neuro-specialists assist medical teams in emergency rooms at participating Network hospitals by offering consultative and diagnostic services in potential stroke cases. The neuro-specialist can fully evaluate the patient’s condition and vital signs in order to determine the best treatment.

How the Network Operates: A Step-by-Step Guide

1) A patient presenting with stroke symptoms arrives at a MidAmerica Stroke Network member hospital for treatment.

2) The member hospital’s emergency team performs a complete neurological assessment of the patient and administers the appropriate treatment.

3) The attending physician then determines that the patient requires further neurocritical care and calls the MidAmerica Stroke Network hotline to page the SLUCare neuro-specialist on-call for additional medical support.

4) After receiving the page, the SLUCare neuro-specialist consults with the member hospital’s attending physician.

5) Then, the SLUCare neuro-specialist assesses the patient’s condition and vital signs in order to determine the appropriate treatment to help stabilize the patient.

6) If the collaborative medical team determines that the stroke patient’s condition cannot be effectively stabilized on-site at the member hospital, a rapid transport to Saint Louis University Hospital is arranged immediately.

7) The stroke patient promptly receives the necessary medical treatment upon arrival at Saint Louis University Hospital.

8) Saint Louis University Hospital then discharges the stabilized stroke patient back into the care of the member hospital for continued treatment and follow-up care.