Mercy opens new outpatient Stroke & Vascular Clinic to serve stroke patients
CEDAR RAPIDS – Mercy Medical Center announces the opening of a new outpatient stroke care facility. The Stroke & Vascular Clinic began seeing patients on June 26 in a temporary location at PCI Neurology, 600 7th St. SE. The Clinic will operate permanently at Mercy once flood restoration is completed. The Stroke & Vascular Clinic rounds out the full spectrum of stroke care provided by Mercy’s Primary Stroke Center.
The Stroke Center recently received Disease Specific Recertification by The Joint Commission. This accreditation means Mercy provides the highest quality care to stroke patients and their families following evidence-based guidelines.
The Stroke & Vascular Clinic is open twice per month, on Thursday mornings, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The clinic is directed by Dr. Mark Young, Medical Director of Mercy’s Stroke Center , and staffed by Julie Shaw, Neurology Nurse Practitioner with PCI Neurology and Diane Handler, Mercy's Stroke Coordinator.
“This clinic allows us to provide the entire continuum of care, from acute to outpatient stroke care,” says Handler. “It is part of our ongoing efforts to provide the best patient care through evidence-based medicine and to develop protocol for better stroke care.”
The clinic is designed for post-stroke patients, as well as patients requiring follow-up care after a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), a “mini-stroke” that occurs when a blood clot temporarily clogs an artery and that part of the brain does not get oxygen for a short period of time.
During appointments, patients are checked for medication regimen compliance, risk factors for another stroke, rehabilitation needs, depression screening and treatment, and any other appropriate medical needs. Individualized, patient-centered care is emphasized.
For more information about the Vascular Clinic, please contact Diane Handler at(319) 533-3559.
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