Ochsner’s TeleStroke Program

It’s a fact that patients who receive medical intervention within 60 minutes of experiencing stroke symptoms have the greatest chance of survival. It’s also true that having immediate access to Ochsner's TeleStroke program greatly enhances the ability of emergency room physicians in rural and urban settings to deliver lifesaving care. Using advanced telemedicine equipment, ER docs in more than 50 hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi can consult with Ochsner vascular neurologists 24-hours a day.

Ochsner Medical Center was the first hospital in Louisiana to use telemedicine to treat stroke. Learn more about TeleStroke, part of the Ochsner CareConnect 360 Program.

Stroke Mobile Program

Stroke Mobile is a completely free program focused on getting you well and back to being as independent as possible. It’s a flexible and convenient program that offers support for 12 months after you leave the hospital. We provide support, education and peace of mind. The Stroke Mobile Team is made up of a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Lay Health Educator who is specially trained in stroke care and prevention.

The Stroke Mobile Team will help:

• Lower your chances of having another stroke
• Lower your family’s risk of having a stroke
• Keep you from going back to the Emergency Room
• Offer support to your loved ones
• Give information to both you and your family
• Reduce the number of times you need to come back to see a doctor

Meet the Team

Ochsner is home to expert team of board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians specialized in vascular neurology (stroke), along with Advanced Practice Providers. Our Vascular Neurology team, in collaboration with our Neurosurgical, Neurocritical Care, Interventional Neuroradiology, and Vascular Surgical teams, work together to provide the highest level of care in acute, post-acute and rehabilitation settings. For cutting-edge, compassionate care, this is the team you want in your corner.

Vascular Neurology Team

Gabriel Vidal, MD
Richard Zweifler, MD
Harold McGrade, MD
Ifeanyi O. Iwuchukwu, MD
Osvaldo Camilo, MD
Jacqueline Carter, MD
Daniel Chehebar, DO
Joseph Tarsia, MD
Lauren Dunn, MD
Bethany Jennings, NP
Barbara Liscum, NP
Melissa Hammerli, PA
Dionne Rachel, NP
Amanda Daigle, PA
Mallory Easter, PA
Olivia Ford, NP
Kyrean Bowens, NP
Angell Luter, NP

Interventional Neuroradiology Team

James Milburn, MD
Gabriel Vidal, MD
Paul Gulotta, MD
Stephanie Faciane

Click here to learn more about Neurocritical Care team.

Click here to learn more about the Neurosurgery team.

Click here to learn more about the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery team.

Locations

In addition to the Ochsner Comprehensive Stroke Center at Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway, expert stroke care is available at the following Ochsner locations:

Ochsner Baptist – A Campus of Ochsner Medical Center
Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner
Ochsner Medical Center – West Bank Campus
Ochsner Hospital for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Ochsner Neurosciences Institute – Covington
St. Tammany Parish Hospital
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge

Conditions We Treat

• Stroke:
  • Ischemic stroke: damage caused when brain tissue is unable to receive oxygen and nutrients through the blood
    • Hemorrhagic stroke: rupture of a weakened blood vessel
      • Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH): bleeding within the brain tissue
      • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): bleeding into the subarachnoid space (the space between the skull and brain tissue)
    • Stroke rehabilitation
    • Stroke prevention
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Arteriovenous malformations (AVM)
• Aneurysms
• Carotid artery disease
• Ruptured and unruptured cerebral aneurysms
• Cerebral vascular malformations
• Chronic cerebral ischemia
• Atherosclerosis

Stroke Quality Metrics

Stroke Central encompasses the inpatient Comprehensive Stroke Care Program. The program provides a real-time, proactive approach to ensure the patient receives the best care with the best opportunity for recovery. All patients who present to Ochsner Medical Center New Orleans are eligible for this program. Stroke Mobile continues the program into the home. This portion of the program focuses on education, behavior and lifestyle modification to reduce the likelihood of another stroke. Patients who reside in Jefferson, St. Tammany or Orleans Parish are eligible for this program.

More than half of Ochsner’s stroke patients are discharged home to their families allowing them to enjoy life in their most comfortable environment.

Ischemic stroke occurs as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. It accounts for 87 percent of all stroke cases. Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 13 percent of stroke cases. It results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. The two types of hemorrhagic stroke are intracerebral (within the brain) hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Ochsner’s stroke treatment team has seen positive outcomes, with an improved rate of complications.

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke is a minimally invasive procedure in which the clot responsible for the stroke is removed from the artery of the brain. This procedure is performed by highly specialized physicians and can be safely performed only on patients who meet certain criteria. A thrombectomy allows for reestablishment of blood flow to brain tissue in order to minimize the damage of the stroke.

There are several other procedures that a stroke patient may have to undergo during their hospitalization. These procedures are performed by highly specialized physicians including vascular surgeons, neuroradiologists, and neurosurgeons.

Stroke Symptoms

What are the signs of a stroke?

• Trouble speaking/slurred speech
• Confusion/trouble understanding
• Sudden weakness, numbness, paralysis of the face, arm or leg (on one side of the body)
• Blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes or double vision
• Headache which may be accompanied with vomiting or dizziness
• Sudden dizziness/loss of balance or coordination

What do you do if someone is having a stroke?

It is extremely important that someone who is showing signs of stroke remembers the acronym B.E. - F.A.S.T. to lower the risk of death or disability:

• B is for balance – is person unable to maintain proper balance?
• E is for eyes – is the vision affected, are the eyes deviated to one side?
• F is for face – does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
• A is for arms – is one arm weak or numb?
• S is for speech – is speech slurred?
• T is for time – if a person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, it’s time to call 9-1-1 and get them to a hospital immediately

If you or someone you love is experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Don’t wait to see if they stop. The faster you act, the better the chances for preventing brain damage and disability.

Stoke Support Group

Our Stroke Support Group is a program formed to assist individuals and family as they adjust to new daily life. The group is open and free to all in the area. We will provide activities for socialization and education that are designed for each individual’s needs.

Each meeting features discussions on various topics, socialization activities, and refreshments. Feedback is absolutely welcomed after each meeting.

When: Every fourth Wednesday of the month

Where: Ochsner Therapy & Wellness – Belle Meade, 605 Lapalco Blvd. Ste. A, Gretna, LA 70056

For more information, please call 504-371-9314.

When: The first Monday of every month at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Ochsner Therapy & Wellness – Driftwood, 3700 Williams Blvd., Kenner, LA 70065

For more information, please call 504-464-8173.

Referring Physicians

To refer a patient, call the Clinic Concierge at: 504-842-7436 or 1-855-312-4190.

• The Clinic Concierge assists with getting copies of patient records and scheduling clinic appointments.