Free medical assistance for patients experiencing acute stroke is provided under the national health care guarantee program.
Inpatient treatment is available for patients brought in by emergency medical teams, transferred from other health facilities, or those who arrive on their own in urgent conditions.
In Odessa, three multidisciplinary hospitals have agreements with the National Health Service of Ukraine to provide inpatient stroke care: City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, and No. 11.
Medical assistance includes an initial assessment by a neurologist or neurosurgeon and mandatory neuroimaging for all patients suspected of having an acute stroke within 60 minutes of their arrival.
These hospitals are equipped with their own CT scanners, and Hospitals No. 10 and No. 11 also feature modern angiographs.
The guaranteed package of free medical assistance for stroke includes: health monitoring, anesthetic support, thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke, round-the-clock laboratory testing according to industry standards, and various instrumental examinations such as CT, ECG, and ultrasound.
Patient rehabilitation should commence as soon as possible after hospitalization. Within the first 72 hours post-admission, consultations with a speech therapist or language therapist are provided, along with psychological support.
Inpatient rehabilitation services for stroke patients are conducted in City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, and the City Hospital No. 8.
Outpatient rehabilitation services are offered by City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, No. 11, City Hospital No. 8, and the Consultative-Diagnostic Center No. 29.
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The success of treating acute stroke largely depends on how quickly the patient is transported to a hospital and receives specialized care. It is crucial to recognize the signs of a stroke.
Remember the acronym BRAIN:
- Balance: loss of balance;
- Responses: difficulty speaking;
- Eyes: sudden vision issues;
- Arm: weakness in one arm;
- Numbness: sudden numbness in one side.
To check for stroke, ask the person to smile, say a simple sentence, raise their arms, or stick out their tongue (it may be crooked). If they struggle with any of these tasks, call 103 immediately!
