MCHD EMS JOINS CAMPAIGN TO BRING STROKE EDUCATION TO THE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY

July 27, 2021

CONROE – Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Every minute that goes by before a person is brought to an appropriate stroke center for treatment increases that person’s chance of death or severe disability. That is why community education is paramount. While English-speaking communities rely on the “B.E.F.A.S.T.” stroke screening tool, there has never been a Spanish equivalent, until now.

In conjunction with a team of other medical professionals, Remle Crowe, PHD, NREMT, senior manager of clinical and operational research at ESO created a Spanish stroke screening tool called “A.H.O.R.A.” which is an acronym that translates to “now.”

“We believe that having a simple Spanish stroke recognition mnemonic is a step in the right direction for improving health equity,” Dr. Crowe said. “Study after study has shown that Hispanic and Latinx Americans have worse stroke outcomes than their white counterparts. One driver of this disparity may be delays in seeking care. Hispanic and Latinx patients often have longer times from symptom onset to hospital arrival and are then less likely to benefit from time-dependent reperfusion treatments. Recognizing symptoms of stroke is key to seeking care early.”

MCHD Medical Director Dr. Robert Dickson thinks this is a huge step forward is reaching an underserved community.

“This information on stroke recognition is vital to not only saving lives, but saving patients from a lifetime of disability,” Dr. Dickson said. “If we can reach one person with this education, we can save a life. That’s why we’re here.”

Montgomery County Hospital District’s mission is to care for the indigent and provide EMS services while protecting the interest of taxpayers and ensuring long-term stability through fund development.  For more information about the Montgomery County Hospital District please go to www.mchd-tx.org.