Baptist Paragould Achieves Arkansas Stroke Ready Hospital Status

The Arkansas Department of Health has designated Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould as an Arkansas Stroke Ready Hospital, the hospital announced Wednesday.

This recognition is awarded to hospitals that meet state standards for delivering timely and effective stroke care. These include emergency evaluation, assessment, treatment, telemedicine capabilities when appropriate, and coordination with emergency medical services.

Lacey Wheeler, director of the hospital’s emergency department and stroke coordinator, said the designation reflects months of preparation by the hospital’s staff, including physicians, nurses, and other clinical team members.

“While I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment, what means the most to me is what this designation represents for our community,” Wheeler said. Baptist Paragould serves Greene and Clay counties as well as neighboring communities in Arkansas and Missouri.

“As a Stroke Ready Hospital, we are better positioned to provide timely evaluation and treatment for patients experiencing a stroke, while connecting them with the appropriate level of care when needed,” she added.

The hospital’s recent efforts to improve stroke care come on the heels of five American Heart Association awards received in August. These included the Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Bronze and Rural Stroke Silver awards.

Recognizing stroke symptoms quickly is key to effective treatment, health officials say. Warning signs include sudden balance problems, vision changes, facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty. The American Stroke Association encourages the public to use the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T., with the final letter standing for “Time to Call 911.” Anyone experiencing or observing these signs is urged to seek emergency care immediately.

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Paragould, formerly known as Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, became part of the Baptist Memorial Health Care system in March. The facility operates 129 beds and continues to expand its capacity to treat critical conditions like stroke.