According to the American Heart Association, of the 795,000 strokes that occur each year in the United States, 23% or 185,000 recur. These are concerning statistics that continue to rise exponentially in spite of the fact that 80% of strokes are preventable. In addition, 15% of all strokes are preceded by a TIA (transient Ischemic Attack). These attacks should be considered a “warning” and are not to be ignored even though symptoms resolve. The data show that 50% of TIAs are not reported to physicians which are an indication that continuous stroke education in the community is a necessity.

As an endeavor to reduce the incidence of stroke, Advocate Christ Medical Center (ACMC) strives on making a concerted effort to educate everyone on risk factors and the signs/symptoms of stroke. As a new sponsor, Advocate Christ Medical Center has been given the opportunity to work together with SSEEO in providing resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers. The focus of this joint venture will be to promote advocacy and support educational programs for stroke awareness and prevention.

Advocate Christ Medical Center is a designated primary stroke center with highly skilled staff and breakthrough technologies and treatments aimed at offering the best opportunity for recovery to those patients experiencing a stroke. Certified by the Joint Commission, ACMC follows a set of standards to provide the appropriate care needed from the time of notification of emergency medical services to discharge and rehabilitation.

A Stroke Support Group sponsored by ACMC meets the third Wednesday of each month to discuss various stroke related topics and share information with other survivors, caregivers and health professionals. The members of the group enjoy being around others who can understand the difficulties faced after experiencing a stroke. A community presentation has been developed by the stroke team at ACMC to provide information on stroke awareness and prevention. This presentation is being offered in an effort to educate the public on the need for emergent care at the first signs or symptoms of a stroke.

Knowledge and resources are the keys to help achieve favorable outcomes for stroke survivors. The purpose of this partnership is to improve the quality of life of stroke survivors and to assist those who are caregivers. The Stroke Team at Advocate Christ Medical Center is excited about this opportunity and grateful for this partnership with SSEEO.

For additional information please call (708) 684-1679 to speak with a stroke coordinator at Advocate Christ Medical Center.