A new partnership between Stephens County Hospital (SCH) and Wellstar Health System will bring expanded stroke care to patients in northeastern Georgia.
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center’s Vascular Neurology team supports SCH stroke patients virtually. The team connects with patients and works with emergency room doctors, radiologists, and hospitalists to manage patient care.
“Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in our region and this initiative will enable our hospital to do more than ever in the management of stroke patients.”
Loskoski notes that historically, SCH stabilizes stroke patients before transferring them to other hospitals. With support from Wellstar’s Vascular Neurology team, hospitals are able to keep more stroke patients in their facility and bring the whole treatment closer to home.
“This is better for patients and their families, but it’s also better for the safety of our entire community,” he says. “It also reduces the burden on EMS and limits the number of transfers that have to be coordinated out of county.”
Mid-February release date
Stephens County Hospital adds new technology to radiology equipment that uses artificial intelligence to instantly detect certain types of stroke. This allows for faster notification to the medical team.
“When it comes to treating stroke, time is everything,” says Dr. Brody Reid, SCH ER physician. “This advanced technology can make a big difference in recovery by notifying you of a stroke more quickly.”
Vascular neurologist Dr. Asis Tayal said Wellstar is dedicated to providing specialized neurological care to stroke patients.
“This partnership with Stevens County Hospital will have a significant impact on the Northeast Georgia region. Together, we will provide patients with the best chance for optimal recovery and treatment after experiencing a stroke,” he said. says.
The program will start in mid-February 2023.
Stephens County Hospital is a 96-bed acute care hospital in Toccoa. The Wellstar Health System is one of Georgia’s largest healthcare systems and is based in Atlanta’s Metro. Wellstar operates nine of his hospitals, with over 400 dispensaries and numerous specialty clinics in the northern and central parts of the state.
