Spotlight: Stroke Team
Stroke Core Team pictured above from left to right: Monica Korba, Clinical Supervisor; Briana Kile, DNP, FNP-C; Baily Lodgson, Stroke Coordinator; Lauren Pointer, Nurse Navigator; and Nicole McCracken, Nurse Manager.
A Team Ready at the First Call
At Boone Hospital Center, stroke care is truly a team sport, one where prep, precision, and compassion come together in the most critical moments of a patient’s life.
The stroke team is activated even before a patient arrives. When paramedics identify stroke symptoms in the field, they notify Boone Hospital’s Emergency Department, triggering a “stroke page.” This page mobilizes a multidisciplinary team that includes emergency medicine providers, in-house neurology, nursing staff, radiology, lab services, and, when needed, interventional radiology.
Why Speed is Everything
In neurology, there’s a saying: “Time is brain.” And it’s not just a phrase, it’s science. Roughly 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that blood flow is blocked during a stroke. That’s why Boone Hospital’s stroke team works against the clock to deliver treatment as quickly as possible, with a goal of intervention within 60 minutes of arrival and within 4.5 hours from symptom onset.
Advanced imaging helps determine whether a patient is eligible for Tenecteplase (TNK), commonly referred to as the “clot buster,” or if a large vessel blockage requires a mechanical thrombectomy performed by interventional radiology. Providers also rapidly gather medical history to ensure safety, screening for conditions like recent surgery, prior brain bleeds, or anticoagulant use. Even elevated blood pressure is addressed immediately so treatment is not delayed.
What Makes Boone Hospital’s Stroke Care Special
Stroke patients are considered among the sickest in the Emergency Room, and at Boone Hospital, they are treated with the same urgency and care we would want for our own loved ones. Boone Hospital is proud to have a neurology provider in-house 24/7, ensuring expert evaluation the moment a patient arrives.
Beyond emergency care, Boone Hospital offers a specialized inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit led by neurology providers. This continuity of care from emergency treatment through recovery helps patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
A Moment That Says It All
Moments like this highlight why this work matters so deeply. In the middle of a grocery store, a 62-year-old man collapses. He arrives at Boone Hospital’s ER with severe right-sided weakness and an inability to speak. Imaging revealed a complete blockage of his left internal carotid artery and left middle cerebral artery—one of the most devastating types of ischemic strokes.
The stroke team acted immediately. TNK was administered, dissolving part of the clot, followed by a mechanical thrombectomy that successfully removed multiple blockages. What could have been permanent, life-altering paralysis and loss of speech was transformed into a powerful recovery. The patient was left with only mild, intermittent word-finding difficulty.
Moments like this reinforce why every protocol, every drill, and every second matters. Behind every successful outcome is constant preparation. Emergency providers, neurologists, and nurses at Boone Hospital participate in ongoing education to stay current with stroke guidelines. Regular review and refinement of standardized stroke protocols ensure that no matter who is working, the response is fast, coordinated, and effective.
Educate Yourself & Your Family
Boone Hospital’s stroke team wants the community to remember one thing: Don’t delay. If you or someone you love has stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately. Waiting to “see if it gets better” can cost precious time—and brain function.
Recognizing a stroke early can save a life—or prevent lifelong disability. The stroke team encourages everyone to remember “BE FAST.”
B – Balance: Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
E – Eyes: Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes
F – Face: Facial drooping or uneven smile
A – Arm: Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm or leg
S – Speech: Slurred speech, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding
T – Time: Call 911 immediately and note when symptoms began