Neurology & Neurosurgery (see more articles like this)

There’s a new code being heard throughout Florida Hospital. From now on when a stroke patient arrives in Florida Hospital's ER, five experts will be paged notifying them of "Code Gray."

Teaming up with Orange County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Florida Hospital Orlando is the only Central Florida Hospital to institute a Code Gray team. Created to provide faster diagnosis and treatment for stroke patients, Code Gray identifies potential stroke victims in the field so that a team of experts – including a neurologist, emergency department physician, emergency department nurse, neurocritical care nurse, CT technician and registration clerk – can be standing by when the patient arrives.

During a stroke, precious brain tissue is destroyed which can lead to possible death or permanent disability – making every second of diagnosis and treatment count. Even more importantly, strokes caused by blood clots may be treated with a drug called TPA, which can only be administered to the patient within the first 3 hours of the stroke. Only 5 percent of stroke patients receive this drug because they are not diagnosed fast enough. The risk of death from a stroke can be reduced by as much as 30 to 50 percent by taking the TPA. However, TPA is typically given to less than 5 percent of stroke patients, because they usually don’t get to the emergency department in time.  The new Brain Attack Center gives patients a faster diagnosis, allowing TPA to be given to 8 percent of stroke patients. 

By mid-2002 the hospital system plans to create the same partnership with EMS organizations in Seminole and Osceola counties.  Celebration Health will team up with parts of Osceola County and Polk County.

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