JAMA Study Finds People with Stroke Symptoms Still Not Calling 911
Study showing ambulance use for fast, effective treatment not increasing; urgent need to recognize stroke symptoms- see
videos
March 14, 2012 – Despite the efforts to inform the public of the urgency for rapid treatment for stroke victims and the
effective treatments now available, the number of patients using an ambulance for rapid transportation to a treatment center has not changed
since the mid-1990s.
In a study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say their research highlights the need for even more education about stroke symptoms and the importance
of early intervention.
‘...important because increasing numbers of older adults are living with cardiovascular disease, and in clinical practice
many patients are not getting indicated therapies’ - Nov. 3, 2011
‘...urgent treatment of patients with TIA is feasible and associated with a substantial reduction in stroke risk during the
first three months - Oct. 27, 2011
The study, led by Dr. Hooman Kamel, a neurologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell and assistant professor
of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College, analyzed data collected by the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS)
between 1997 and 2008.
"People do not always recognize the seriousness of stroke symptoms, or instead of calling 911, they may call their
primary care physician for an appointment and lose valuable time as the damage becomes irreversible," says Dr. Kamel.
Videos About Stroke from the National Institutes of Health
and NIHSeniorHealth.gov
Based on 1,605 cases, the study found that just 51 percent of adults diagnosed with stroke in emergency departments
nationwide arrived via ambulance, with no significant change over the 11-year span.
Dr. Kamel says recovery is possible with early treatment. "We have drugs and surgeries that can minimize brain damage
from a stroke, but they can be used only within a few short hours. When stroke victims or bystanders quickly recognize the symptoms of a
stroke and call 911, patients are more likely to arrive in time to receive these treatments."
The study was co-authored by Dr. Babak Navi, director of the Weill Cornell Stroke Center and assistant professor at Weill
Cornell Medical College, and Dr. Jahan Fahimi, an emergency physician and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
Common Warning Signs of Stroke
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, you should call 911 if you experience any of
these symptoms.
● Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
● Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
● Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
● Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
● Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located in New York City, reports to be one of the leading
academic medical centers in the world, comprising the teaching hospital NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical College, the medical
school of Cornell University. For more information, visit
www.nyp.org and
weill.cornell.edu.
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March 14, 2012 – Despite the efforts to inform the public of the urgency for rapid treatment for stroke victims and the
effective treatments now available, the number of patients using an ambulance for rapid transportation to a treatment center has not changed
since the mid-1990s. 
● Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
"We win because we care, we prepare
and we have no fear," Beth Janicek, board certified personal
injury attorney