Health is a Way of Life

We live in a goal-oriented society. Most of us imagine a healthier version of ourselves and make plans to achieve it, with mixed success and satisfaction. Instead, let's look at health as a process, informed by knowledge, which we practice a little bit every day.

Why Are Stroke Centers So Important?

Dignity Health Editorial Team / JUNE 23, 2019

Much is known about how to treat stroke victims swiftly and effectively, but access to first rate stroke care varies tremendously. The Joint Commission-a nonprofit that accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations across the country-has developed a set of certifications to identify a hospital's capacity for stroke care.

How Telemedicine is Changing Stroke Treatment

One of the greatest challenges in treating acute stroke is the time it takes to deliver victims to stroke specialists, especially when the victims are far away. Neurologists often refer to the expression "Time is brain," meaning that from the onset of stroke, the potential for permanent disability or death increases with every minute.

Dignity Health Editorial Team
JUNE 23, 2019

Why Minutes Matter

"Time is Brain." Minimizing the time between the onset of stroke and the beginning of treatment is critical. Time elapsed is one of the biggest determining factor in how much damage a stroke does to the brain. Every minute a stroke goes untreated, roughly 1.9 million brain cells die, which can lead to long-term disability and even death. Strokes should be treated with the same urgency as a heart attack.

Dignity Health Editorial Team
JUNE 23, 2019