STROKE care is one of the costliest healthcare conditions globally.
Experiencing a stroke is a leading precursor of serious, long-term disability, the effects of which may be prolonged with physical, emotional, social, and financial consequences, not only for those affected but also their family and friends.
However, as key developments in modern medicine continue to grow, there are many forms of comprehensive stroke care available to lessen these effects and prevent the worst from happening.
Early diagnosis is key to avoid severe consequences of stroke. Most stroke patients arrive at the hospital a little too late.
"Stroke is actually equivalent to a heart attack. If you have symptoms of chest pain, it is urgent for you to visit the hospital to receive treatment or you may risk cardiac arrest or death due to a heart attack," says Sunway Medical Centre consultant emergency physician, Dr Lee Tuan Cheong.
The faster you seek medical attention, the earlier healthcare professionals would be able to help you assess the severity of symptoms, whilst discussing with your family on how to proceed with treatment.
A successful multidisciplinary health team strives to make the most comprehensive assessment of a patient's situation and to follow it up with a full-range plan of treatment – all so that timely and seamless care can be delivered to the patient effectively.
Stroke teams are larger than many healthcare teams, so coordination and effective collaboration are important.
It is important in this day and age to have a good volume of manpower with some members of the team specialising in certain areas to deliver a comprehensive amount of care, explains Sunway Medical Centre consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Johan Quah.
For example, you need a good paramedic team to be able to respond to an emergency in a timely manner.
"Working with a multidisciplinary team allows you to treat the patient in a holistic manner and provide the best, comprehensive care.
With each physician focused on a different aspect of the patient's health, providers are more likely to identify areas of need, and subsequently manage those needs in an effective way."
Having a comprehensive and multidisciplinary team has been proven to improve a patient's outcome in terms of better treatment planning and compliance, greater self-management and better preventative care to stay well. It also ensures greater continuity of care across different care settings.
"It is important to have a comprehensive stroke team. No patient should be left behind," says Dr Quah.
ACT FAST
Here's how you can conduct a rapid stroke screening with B.E.F.A.S.T.
B – Balance (Loss of balance, headache or dizziness)
E – Eyes (Blurred vision)
F – Face (One side of the face is drooping)
A – Arms (Weakness in arms or legs)
S – Speech (Speech difficulty)
T – Time (Time to call for an ambulance immediately)