CHRISTUS Health highlights integrated, life-saving stroke care during National Stroke Month

During National Stroke Awareness Month this May, CHRISTUS Health is reinforcing the importance of rapid recognition and treatment of stroke while highlighting its integrated system of care that delivers advanced, coordinated treatment across its ministries.

Stroke affects nearly 800,000 Americans each year, with someone experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dying from one every three minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Across Texas and Louisianna, CHRISTUS Health provides a connected network of stroke care, from community hospitals to comprehensive stroke centers, ensuring patients receive timely, evidence-based treatment close to home. This coordinated approach allows care teams to quickly assess patients, transfer them when needed and begin life-saving interventions without delay.

“When treating a stroke, time is critical,” said Alysce Parish, stroke coordinator for CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. “Identifying symptoms quickly and calling 911 right away helps patients get care sooner, which can greatly improve their chances for a better recovery.”

Physicians and clinicians across CHRISTUS emphasize that calling 911 rather than driving to the hospital allows emergency teams to begin care immediately and alert hospital stroke teams in advance.

“Receiving treatment as soon as possible can significantly reduce the lasting effects of a stroke,” said Lauren Beckham, stroke program manager for CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana. “That’s why calling 911 immediately is so important, rather than attempting to drive yourself or a loved one to the hospital.”

CHRISTUS continues to invest in advanced technology and clinical capabilities that improve speed and outcomes. In Northeast Texas, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital introduced portable MRI technology, bringing imaging directly to the patient’s bedside to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment.

“This technology is a game changer for stroke care,” said Jennifer Burwell, stroke program manager at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital. “The sooner we understand what is happening in the patient’s brain, the faster we can begin targeted treatment. That speed can make all the difference in recovery.”

Other ministries across CHRISTUS provide specialized capabilities, including comprehensive stroke centers and regional stroke networks that allow patients to receive high-level care without leaving their communities.

Leaders across the system stress that speed remains the most important factor in stroke care.

“Knowing the signs of a stroke and acting quickly can make the difference between a full recovery and a life-altering disability,” said Cord Tucker, stroke program manager for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth. “When a stroke happens, the brain is starved of oxygen. Millions of brain cells are lost each minute, so getting emergency care fast is critical.”

Dr. Ryan Morton, a neurosurgeon with CHRISTUS Health, said the system’s integrated approach ensures patients receive seamless care from the moment symptoms begin through treatment and recovery.

That coordinated care can include rapid imaging, emergency interventions and, if needed, transfer to specialized facilities for advanced procedures. Patients like Amanda Vargas have experienced firsthand how that connectivity saves lives. After showing stroke symptoms at a CHRISTUS facility, Vargas received rapid assessment, transport and a clot-removal procedure within hours.

“A fast response time could make a difference,” Vargas said. “I feel very blessed that I was not severely affected by my stroke.”

During Stroke Awareness Month, CHRISTUS Health encourages everyone to remember the B.E.F.A.S.T. warning signs:

B: Balance – Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E: Eyes – Sudden blurred or double vision
F: Face – One side of the face droops when smiling
A: Arm – One arm drifts downward when raised
S: Speech – Slurred or strange speech
T: Time – Call 911 immediately

By combining community awareness, advanced technology and a fully integrated network of care, CHRISTUS Health aims to improve survival rates and reduce long-term disability for stroke patients across the communities it serves.