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Frequently Asked Questions
 Where, exactly, is the "Stroke Center" located?
That is a good question, and one that truly is very frequently asked. There actually is not one specific area within the hospital that is labeled as the "Stroke Center." When a hospital achieves Primary "Stroke Center" certification from Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the entire hospital system of stroke care is recognized as one that fosters and provides excellent care for patients with stroke. This system includes pre-hospital emergency care, the Emergency Department, in-patient units and all the support and services provided within these areas. Learn more about JCAHO.
The laboratory and radiology departments play large roles, along with rehabilitation services such as Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies. Physician and Nursing staffs receive education on stroke. Interdisciplinary healthcare teams including social workers, discharge planners, nutritionists and others collaborate to meet the needs of patients and their families both within the hospital, and after discharge. Stroke-care protocols are instituted in every clinical area and standardized order sets are used to ensure consistent, "best-practice" care for all patients admitted with stroke. Quality and performance improvement activities occur in most departments to monitor performance and outcome, and to ensure continuous efforts at improvement. It should be noted that our hospital does, in fact, have a "Stroke Unit." It is well documented, and highly recommended, that patients with stroke be cared for in units where the staff provides frequent and consistent stroke care. What are the goals of the PBMC Stroke Program? Facilitate the continuum of stroke care encompassing pre-hospital, Emergency Department, acute care, rehabilitation and post-discharge care.Educate healthcare professionals who care for stroke patients in order to maintain high quality care and outcomes. - Educate patient, family and community members about stroke prevention, recognition and treatment.
- Continue to use interdisciplinary team approach to evaluate and improve stroke care and outcomes.
Does the Stroke Center have a Mission Statement? Penobscot Bay Medical Center is a community hospital dedicated to providing effective and efficient stroke care to the people of Mid-Coast Maine. We are committed to collaboration with all members of the healthcare team in the stroke care continuum with a common goal of optimizing health and quality of life of people with stroke. What is cholesterol? What does it have to with stroke?
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It is normal to have cholesterol. Cholesterol is an important part of a healthy body because it is used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other needed bodily functions. Too much cholesterol in the blood, however, is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and for stroke. Hypercholesterolemia is the medical term for high levels of blood cholesterol. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as "bad cholesterol." High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as "good cholesterol." These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides and total serum (blood) cholesterol, can be determined through a blood test. This blood test is known as the lipid profile. Here, we explain the components of the lipid profile. LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form a plaque. Plaque is a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result. HDL (Good) Cholesterol
About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack and stroke. Low levels of HDL also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from arterial plaque, thus slowing its buildup. Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body. Elevated triglycerides can be due to overweight / obesity, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and a diet very high in carbohydrates. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including a high LDL (bad) level and a low HDL (good) level. High triglyceride levels are also commonly seen in people with diabetes. Total Cholesterol
Total cholesterol is the most common level of blood cholesterol. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Desirable levels help to ensure a lower risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
Are all strokes the same? No. All strokes are not the same. Basically, stroke is the sudden onset of neurologic symptoms due to the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. Most strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is significantly reduced or blocked off (ischemic stroke). A smaller number of strokes are due to brain tissue damage that occurs after a blood vessel has ruptured (hemorrhagic stroke). The amount and type of brain cell damage, and resultant loss of function, depends upon the location and severity of the blood vessel occlusion or rupture. There are, therefore, two major classifications of stroke. Approximately 85 percent of strokes are ischemic in nature. An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot or mass clogs a blood vessel, cutting off blood flow to a part of the brain. The remaining 15 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic in nature. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in or very near to the brain. Overall, the treatment for these two types of stroke is different. Updated: 9/27/07
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