Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia Named a Remote Treatment Stroke Center

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital  in Lavonia has been designated as a Remote Treatment Stroke Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health Office of EMS and Trauma.

The designation recognizes Sacred Heart’s quality care for stroke patients, especially its use of telemedicine to provide state-of-the-art emergency treatment locally.

“The Department commends you and your staff for the commitment to excellence in stroke care that is being provided by your facility,” said Kathleen Toomey, MD, Georgia’s Public Health Commissioner and State Health Officer, in a letter announcing the designation. “Reducing the incidence and the impact of strokes on individuals in Georgia is exceedingly important.”

Stroke is the nation’s leading cause of disability and one of the leading causes of death.

Georgia is in the core of the nation’s “stroke belt” – a swath of states from Virginia to Texas in which stroke is significantly more common than in other parts of the U.S.

St. Mary’s spokesman Mark Ralston says St. Mary’s Sacred Heart uses a unique telestroke system in partnership with physicians at August University Medical Center.

“The REACH system is a fully integrated, audio, video, data sharing cart that actually comes into the room. It has a camera on the front and also a screen so the physician in Augusta can see and talk to the patient and the patient can talk to them. It also has a zoom feature so the Augusta physcian can do a very detailed exam assisted by the doctor and nurses on site,” Ralston explained.

From there, the physician in Augusta can recommend to the local ER physician what steps to take next, such as a administering a powerful anti-clotting drug called Altepase.

“Alteplase is the most powerful front-line tool we have in the treatment of ischemic stroke, and it can actually reduce or prevent damage to the brain,” said Tyler Davison, manager of Sacred Heart’s Emergency Department. “It’s vital that it be administered correctly and only to patients who meet rigorous safety guidelines. Our association with Augusta University Medical Center and St. Mary’s allows us to do that.”

Sacred Heart Hospital President Jeff English tells WNEG News the process to receive the Remote Treatment Stroke Center certification is demanding and highly detailed process.

“We are honored to be designated as a Remote Treatment Stroke Center,” said Jeff English, President of St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital. “ I’m proud of our medical staff, hospital staff, and our partners in EMS for their commitment to providing quality care for our patients and our community.”