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Telestroke program delivers fast, life-saving treatment
A Kaiser Permanente physician thought he pinched a nerve during a tennis match. Then he realized he was having a stroke.
Charles Hamori, MD, an internal medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.
It was a January evening in San Diego. Charles Hamori, MD, a primary care physician with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, was enjoying his usual game of tennis when he noticed his play suddenly became clumsy.
“I thought I might have tweaked my arm, so my first thought was, ‘I’ll just go home and rest.’ But just as I got to my car, I realized, ‘Wait a second — this is a stroke,’” said Dr. Hamori.
He wasted no time rushing to a nearby Kaiser Permanente emergency room.
Technology saves precious time
Dr. Hamori’s decision to seek immediate medical care may have saved his life. Strokes caused 1 in 6 deaths in the United States in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also can cause long-term disability.
Fortunately, Kaiser Permanente’s telestroke program offers fast, safe, and effective stroke treatment. When a stroke patient arrives at an emergency room, their care team notifies a neurologist. The stroke specialist assesses the patient by video and orders a medication that dissolves the blood clot that is causing the stroke.
William Neil, MD, a telestroke neurologist who practices at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, says that this technology played a key role in Dr. Hamori’s full recovery.
“Nearly 2 million brain cells are lost every minute during a stroke. With this technology, I can quickly assess patients who are in another room or another building. This means we don’t have to waste any time in getting stroke patients the treatment they need,” said Dr. Neil.
Know the signs of a stroke
As a physician, Dr. Hamori recognized the symptoms he was experiencing. Because minutes matter during a stroke, it’s important for everyone to know the signs of a stroke. Dr. Neil recommends memorizing the acronym BE FAST.
Balance
Loss of balance or trouble walking
Eyes
Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
Face
Sudden uneven appearance of the face
Arms and legs
Weakness, numbness, or sudden trouble moving or feeling arms or legs
Speech
Trouble speaking
Time to call 911
If you or a loved one experiences the symptoms above, call 911
A quick save
Thanks to telestroke technology Dr. Hamori received the clot-busting medication less than 30 minutes after arriving at the emergency room. Today, he shares his experience to encourage people to act quickly if they think they’re experiencing a stroke.
“If I had brushed it off and gone to sleep that night, I probably wouldn’t have made a full recovery,” said Dr. Hamori.
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s stroke resources.