Grady Gets Georgia’s First Mobile Stroke Unit
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Grady Gets Georgia’s First Mobile Stroke Unit

Grady Hospital recently dedicated its new Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit, the first in Georgia.

By Al Shams July 12, 2018, 2:02 pm Edit
Cutting the ribbon for the new Grady mobile stroke unit was (from left): John Haupert, of Grady Health System; Michael Frankel, Marcus Stroke Network and Vascular Neurology at Emory School of Medicine; Bruce Inverso, American Heart Association; and Jonathan S. Lewin, Emory University health affairs and Woodruff Health Sciences Center.
Cutting the ribbon for the new Grady mobile stroke unit was (from left): John Haupert, of Grady Health System; Michael Frankel, Marcus Stroke Network and Vascular Neurology at Emory School of Medicine; Bruce Inverso, American Heart Association; and Jonathan S. Lewin, Emory University health affairs and Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Grady Hospital recently dedicated its new Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit, the first in Georgia. On June 25, about 80 people attended the ribbon cutting. The ambulance represents the latest, cutting-edge technology in the prompt and effective treatment of stroke victims. It allows EMS responders to gather critical patient data, relay that data to Grady’s Marcus Stroke Center and provide some treatment options while the patient is en route.  The truck has an onboard CT scanner, a telemedicine feature and even enables the doctor to personally interact with the patient.

The Southeast is considered the nation’s “Stroke Belt,” so time is critical in the effective treatment of a stroke. This vehicle, along with the Marcus Stroke Center, has the goal of helping stroke victims avoid the worst consequences of stroke, return them to their normal pace, and reduce the high cost of long-term care for those afflicted.

This vehicle represents the culmination of efforts by a number of dedicated professionals along with the support of Emory Health Care, Grady Hospital, the state of Georgia, the American Heart Association and the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center headed by Dr. Michael Frankel.

Over the last eight years, the significant donations from the Marcus Family and the Marcus Foundation have played a key role in creating, within Grady, a world-class facility to treat stroke victims and to enhance their lives.  The center has helped to save thousands of lives in Georgia.

A $15 million gift from the Marcus Foundation will create the Marcus Stroke Network, an innovative partnership between leading health groups. This network will provide a 24/7 call center to serve as a central resource to help paramedics in their diagnosis and on-board treatment, and in locating the nearest suitable facility.

The Georgia Department of Health helped establish the network and the Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Marcus Neuroscience Institute will be a collaborating partner in the Marcus Stroke Network.

Grady is at the forefront in providing prompt and effective care for stroke victims. It is envisioned that the center’s capabilities will be offered to other hospitals in Georgia and then the Southeast.

During the mobile unit dedication, Frankel said that in “using this sophisticated telemedicine platform, our goal is to extend the experience of the center’s stroke specialists to participating network hospitals and more importantly, to offer stroke victims the best opportunity for a favorable outcome.”

Bernie Marcus said in a news release: “This is an exciting and historic moment in the stroke care for the city of Atlanta. In a situation where every second counts, this specialized ambulance allows lifesaving treatment to begin for stroke patients before they reach the hospital.  This is an important addition to the Marcus Foundation’s commitment to advancing stroke care.”

Al Shams is a former CPA, an investment professional with more than 45 years’ industry experience and a Sandy Springs resident.

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