Strike out Stroke Night a Home Run for AR SAVES

By Sally Graham

Bullock and fellow stroke survivors — Marcia Griffith of Paragould, Karen Alcott from Searcy and the Rev. William Robinson of North Little Rock — were the stars of this year’s AR SAVES Strike out Stroke Night at Dickey-Stephens Park.

Loretta Williams, R.N., an assistant outreach nurse with AR SAVES, with her son Deodis Williams IV.

Curtis Lowery, M.D., warms up to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Curtis Lowery, M.D., warms up to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

“I’m very, very lucky,” said Bullock, about being treated at DeWitt Hospital and Nursing Home, a participating hospital of the Arkansas Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support (AR SAVES) program. It uses a high-speed video communications system to help provide immediate, life-saving treatments to stroke patients 24 hours a day. The real-time video communication enables a stroke neurologist to evaluate whether emergency room physicians should use a powerful blood thinner within the critical 4.5-hour period following the first signs of stroke.

AR SAVES is a partnership between the University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Center for Distance Health, the state Department of Human Services, Sparks Regional Health
System in Fort Smith and 36 other Arkansas hospitals.

During a pre-game ceremony, stroke survivors shared a moment on the mound before Curtis Lowery, M.D., chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UAMS College of Medicine and founder of the UAMS Center for Distance Health, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to the Arkansas Travelers’ catcher.

Last month, the opening game of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball team honored stroke survivors in that area of the state.

May is Stroke Awareness Month and an important part of UAMS’ mission is reaching out to other areas of the state to help local physicians identify patients with stroke and improve patients’ outcomes.

AR SAVES volunteers greeted baseball fans, handed out free T-shirts, answered questions about the program and helped raise awareness about acting F.A.S.T. – an easy reminder that when you see problems with the Face, Arm, or Speech it’s Time to call 911.

Arkansas, which ranks second in the nation in stroke death rates, had 1,722 stroke-related deaths in 2008, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nationwide direct and indirect cost of medical and institutional care of permanently disabled stroke victims was $62.7 billion in 2007, according to the American Heart Association’s 2010 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.

“The AR SAVES program will save lives and money because if stroke patients get the treatment they need within 4.5 hours, they have a much greater chance of living without a major, costly disability,” said Nicolas Bianchi, M.D., AR SAVES medical director, who, as a passenger in the AirEvac helicopter, made a dramatic entry to the stadium to deliver the ball for the first pitch.

Throughout the game, stroke survivors and their families celebrated being able to share good memories and their survival stories.

For fans of the Arkansas minor league team, the stress balls shaped like brains were essential giveaways. The Travs struck out in extra innings, posting a 3-2 loss during their home game against the Springfield Cardinals.

Julie Hall-Barrow, Ed.D., AR SAVES director and director of education for the Center for Distance Health, applauded the sponsor One Vision Solutions for making this night possible. “We can’t wait until next year!”