Sunrise Medical Group Neurology Develops Brain Attack Program With Memorial Health Care System
By Harvey Schwartz, MD
Stroke is a major public health problem. It is the second leading cause of mortality worldwide and the third leading cause of death in the United States.
There are approximately 750,000 new and recurrent strokes per year nationally with 180,000 deaths. The estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke in the United States is over $50 billion. In the South Broward Hospital District, there are approximately 2,500 new or recurrent strokes per year.
Sunrise Medical Group Neurology has taken the initiative in developing a stroke/brain attack program with the Memorial Healthcare Sytem. Since 2001, under the direction of Dr. Harvey Schwartz, the brain attack team at Memorial Regional Hospital has developed stroke protocols that are aimed at reducing the number of and disability that results from, ischemic stroke. Through the efforts of the team, early diagnosis and aggressive stroke management, as well as community teaching and awareness programs for early signs of stroke have been promoted.
In addition to Dr. Schwartz, the other physicians that make up the team are Dr. Joel Dokson, Dr. Eduardo Cutie, Dr. Tanushree Roy, Dr. Veena Subramanian, and Dr. Maria Herrera.
This comprehensive approach to stroke care has resulted in the recognition by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The organization has granted a disease specific accreditation to Memorial Regional Hospital and Memorial West Hospital as primary stroke centers. This certification has been awarded to only five other hospitals in the State of Florida and only 45 in the country.
“I am extremely proud of the neurologists in our group as well as the dedication of the nurses and administrative staff at Memorial in helping us to obtain this award,” said Dr. Harvey Schwartz. “The certification is a testament to the dedication and commitment of Sunrise Medical Group Neurology to offer the best in neurological care to the residents of Broward County.”
The stroke program developed by Dr. Schwartz and this group of neurologists came as a response to the challenge of changing the way the medical community thinks about strokes. “It was once thought that stroke was an untreatable, unpreventable, and unpredictable disorder. In the last eight years great strides have been made in rapid evaluation methods and new therapies that can affect the outcome and diminish disability cause by stroke,” said Dr. Schwartz.
The Sunrise Neurology Group is proud of the work it has done up until now in developing a comprehensive stroke program in Broward County. This promises to be a beginning for a brighter future for patients suffering with this neurological condition.