Stroke Treatment Efforts Announced

Robert Willcott, Ph.D., was watching television at his home on January 15 when he suddenly lost function on the left side of his body.

His wife responded by calling 9-1-1. Ten minutes later paramedics arrived and rushed him to Memorial Hermann Hospital where the diagnosis was made. Dr. Willcott had suffered a stroke.

Because these steps were taken with such expedience, doctors were able to treat Dr. Willcott with tPA, a clot-busting drug that must be administered within a three-hour window after the onset of symptoms. Three days later, Dr. Willcott returned home.

His is a success story that stroke experts hope will become the norm. Dr. James C. Grotta, president of the American Heart Association-Houston and the director of The University of Texas-Houston stroke team, announced on June 22 a plan to improve stroke outcomes in the Houston area. The UT-Houston and Baylor College of Medicine stroke teams will collaborate with the Houston Fire Department Emergency Medical Services with a grant from the American Heart Association to identify stroke centers and make other improvements to the way in which strokes are responded to and treated.

"Treatment of stroke patients with tPA increases recovery after stroke and the earlier the treatment, the better," said Dr. Grotta, professor of neurology at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School.

The effort is being called the HoPSTO which stands for Houston Paramedic Stroke Treatment Outcomes study. The goals for the study are to improve paramedic stroke diagnosis, identify stroke centers, improve EMS and stroke center performance in terms of speed and increase the number of stroke patients treated. The participating stroke centers at the launch of the study are Memorial Hermann Hospital, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, The Methodist Hospital and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital. According to Dr. Grotta, these centers are committed to having a person who knows how to deliver tPA therapy available seven days a week, 24 hours a day in addition to staff resources for completing other tasks associated with running a stroke center. Dr. Grotta noted that any hospital willing to make this commitment can become part of the effort.

Dr. Willcott credits the team of professionals with his outcome. "The only way this all went together is that at least a dozen people had to be well-trained, alert, quick and ready to do what is required," he told those gathered at a press conference. "So, I am happy to be here as a survivor."

Using the word "superb" to describe the way he feels now, Dr. Willcott, who will turn 67 years old this month, said the experience brought things into sharper perspective. He plans to travel to upstate New York this summer and is building a house in Maine where he will be closer to his three grandchildren.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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