CORBIN – As part of its year-long 100 Days of Service in celebration of its 100th anniversary, Baptist Health Corbin offered free testing in May, with many people getting their blood pressure and stroke risk checked.
Baptist Health Corbin hosted two events, bringing more than 70 participants to St. Paul’s Church and Parkway Ministries to provide stroke screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol testing. Education was also provided on the signs and symptoms of stroke and stroke prevention measures. This was the fifth monthly event hosted by Baptist Health hospitals in celebration of their 100th anniversary.
“We are pleased with the number of people who participated in these screenings and their enthusiasm to learn more about stroke prevention. It is an honor to partner with these churches to bring the community together and raise awareness about the symptoms of stroke, the importance of seeking medical attention right away and stroke prevention measures,” said Joy Highfield, stroke coordinator for Baptist Health Corbin. If you have any questions about stroke or Baptist Health Corbin’s stroke program, please call us or visit BaptistHealth.com/Corbin.
Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Kentucky’s stroke death rate is higher than the national average, the 14th highest rate in the nation. Stroke is the sixth leading cause of death in Kentucky and the fourth leading cause in Indiana, which has the 17th highest rate in the nation.
Baptist Health Corbin has an excellent stroke program that offers 24/7 teleneurologist coverage. The program includes rapid recognition and treatment of stroke symptoms. CT and MRI diagnostics, IV thrombolytic administration, telehealth neurologist evaluation, on-site neurology APRN, and post-thrombolysis CCU monitoring are some of the program highlights. This allows many patients to receive stroke care and monitoring closer to home. The recovery process includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy evaluation and treatment during hospitalization. Baptist Health Corbin is a recipient of the Gold Plus Stroke Award and Bronze Rural Stroke Award from the American Heart Association.
Detecting stroke
Symptoms of a stroke include numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body, confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding conversations, loss of vision in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and a severe headache with no known cause.
To find the stroke, use the letters FAST.
F = Facial sagging. Is your smile uneven?
A = Arm weakness. When you raise both arms, does one arm drop?
S = Difficulty in speaking. Is your speech slurred?
T = time to call 911. Record the time any symptoms first appeared.
After years of community support and fundraising, the first Kentucky Baptist Hospital in Louisville opened in November 1924. Baptist Health has since expanded to nine hospitals and more than 2,700 licensed beds, serving approximately 75 percent of Kentucky residents and a broad swath of southern Indiana.
— Provided by Baptist Health Corbin
