Clinical collaboration delivers world-class stroke care to Sussex

It’s a fairly well-known fact: Time is of the essence when someone has a stroke. Acting quickly is key, and equally important is getting to a hospital that staffs a team of neurological experts who know from experience what the best course of action is – within seconds.

For those who live in, work in, and visit Sussex County, that hospital is Beebe. Here, a team of stroke specialists is available around the clock, working in collaboration with world-class neurologists at the Thomas Jefferson Neuroscience Network, whose experts are internationally renowned for their capabilities in caring for stroke patients.

As stroke patients present at Beebe, the Jefferson Expert Teleconsulting robot is utilized to connect with an on-call stroke neurologist from Jefferson. The robot facilitates conversation among clinicians, the patient and family members, while also making it possible for the neurologist to conduct an examination, review test results using videoconference technology and offer recommendations for plans of care.

Through these care advancements, many stroke patients can stay at Beebe. However, in the most critical situations, patients can be transferred to Jefferson Health for care. In these cases, patients are transported via helicopter, with an average transit time of just 32 minutes. This is especially important in light of data showing that Delaware ranks second in the nation for stroke mortality. As a primary stroke center that has an established partnership with Jefferson, Beebe is demonstrating its commitment to changing those statistics.

Stories and reflections from patients truly underscore the value of Beebe’s partnership with Jefferson. One person who can attest to this is Dr. David Tam, who experienced a stroke in March. Even as president and CEO of Beebe Healthcare, he, like many others, turned to his trusted community hospital for care. He is a patient whose life was saved because of the quality care he received at Beebe, along with guidance from Jefferson neurologists.

In addition to raising awareness about its clinical affiliation with Jefferson, the stroke specialists at Beebe are working hard to educate the community on the signs of stroke and the importance of acting quickly when symptoms present. Even Tam has admitted that these stroke signs can be difficult to realize and that you can have a little bit of denial about what is going on. His message remains, “Don’t wait – seek care immediately!”

BE FAST is an acronym and tool that can help people remember signs and symptoms of stroke.

B is for Balance: Have you experienced a sudden loss of balance?

E is for Eyes: Have you lost vision in one or both eyes?

F is for Face: Does one side of the face droop?

A is for Arms: Does one arm drift downward?

S is for Speech: Is your speech slurred or strange?

T is for Time: Don’t waste it – call 911 immediately.

Beebe team members are incredibly proud to be continuously advancing stroke services and providing this care to Sussex County. The clinical affiliation with Jefferson Health has localized world-class care using state-of-the-art technology.