AR SAVES

Sudden weakness, numbness, unsteady gait and speech problems are all possible signs of stroke. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, the next three hours are critical. Doctors have learned that stroke patients have the best chance of recovery if they get the right diagnosis and treatment within three hours.

Thanks to a new telemedicine program that links the emergency room doctors at Crittenden Regional Hospital to specially trained neurologists via live, two-way video, stroke patients can get the treatment they need 24-hours a day. Led by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas SAVES (Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support) program helps ensure treatment within the three-hour period.

As residents of Arkansas, statistics show that we are at a higher risk of stroke death than residents of all but two other states. Stroke-related deaths dwarf other major causes of death in Arkansas, with 1,847 such deaths in 2005, the most recent year those statistics are available. With SAVES, Arkansans now are getting the life-saving treatment they need, when they need it.