Kootenai Health is a Level II Stroke Center, designated by the state of Idaho’s Time Sensitive Emergency System (TSE). To earn this three-year designation, hospitals must meet a variety of stringent benchmarks for the quick diagnosis, treatment, and care for stroke patients as well as a comprehensive training protocol. Our team works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across our hospital, regional emergency response agencies, and the community. Through these efforts, important protocol has been established for timely diagnosis and treatment to ensure the best possible outcomes for stroke patients in our region.
Kootenai Health treats hundreds of stroke patients each year and has 24-hour neurology coverage. To learn more about the designation criteria for Level II Stroke Centers in the state of Idaho, visit idaho.gov.
At Kootenai Health, we have 24-hour neurology coverage – call 911 if you or a loved one are experiencing any of the stroke-like symptoms outlined below.
Rapid Assessment – How to Spot a Stroke
A stroke happens when blood flow is interrupted to part of the brain. This can be due to a blood clot or bleeding in the brain. Our team is trained to assess patients rapidly to ensure the fastest and most targeted response to a stroke by using the BE-FAST method.
Risk Factors and Stroke Prevention
Risk factors may increase your chance of having a stroke. Some risk factors can be changed or treated so that you can lower your risk of a stroke such as:
- Alcohol use
- Diabetes
- Drug use
- Heart attack
- Heart disease: irregular heartbeat, previous
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Narrowing of the arteries
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Overweight and obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking or using smokeless tobacco
- Stress
- Using hormonal contraceptives
Although you cannot change some risk factors, such as age, family history, race and gender, it is important to be aware of them and make lifestyle choices that reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Kootenai Health regularly performs outreach activities to educate our community about risk factors and prevention measures related to stroke, as well as the BE-FAST methodology.
Life-saving Treatment
When it comes to stroke, every second counts to preserve precious brain function.
At the first sign of stroke, our providers can administer a cutting edge intravenous clot-busting medication, tenecteplase. When administered early at the onset of symptoms, tenecteplase is highly effective at dissolving clots.
Kootenai Health also offers a variety of clinically proven, minimally invasive procedures aimed at improving cardiac health. Please visit our Cardiac Services page to learn more.
Call the Kootenai Health Stroke Coordinator for more guidance and insight:
Kate Knight, MSN, RN, SCRN
Kootenai Health Stroke Coordinator
208.625.5886
Patient Support and Education
- American Stroke Association
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
- Time Sensitive Emergency (TSE) Resource page
- Support Groups
Stroke-Related Newsroom
Read a story about one of our stroke patients in the May 2022 issue of Kootenai Health magazine
