NHCH Partners with Queen’s

North Hawaii Community Hospital recently acquired new technology to assist stroke patients within its Emergency Department. The technology allows hospital staff to link directly into the network at Queen’s Medical Center.

Hospital officials say the new stroke treatment program, with technology provided by The Queen’s Health Systems, will provide state-of-the-art treatment to stroke patients entering the hospital through the Emergency Department.

Throughout the week, Dr. Matthew Koenig, Program Director of Telehealth/Telemedicine at The Queen’s Health Systems and Clinical Director of the Hawaiian Islands Regional Stroke Network, provided support to hospital staff learning the system.

“This new stroke treatment program allows patients to be evaluated and treated by stroke experts while staying at their local hospital in their own community,” said Dr. Koenig. “North Hawai’i Community Hospital is the first hospital in the state to use brand new telecommunication technology that links directly into the network at Queen’s Medical Center.”

With stroke as the leading cause of chronic disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in the state, hospital officials say that treatment through the use of clot buster medications is only possible if patients get to the hospital quickly.

“This new protocol, with North Hawai’i Community Hospital working together with The Queen’s Medical Center, means that we are able to provide the highest quality service to our patients at an extremely critical time,” said Dr. Gary Goldberg, Chief Medical Officer at North Hawai’i Community Hospital.

Symptoms of a stroke include sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body, sudden onset of speech or language problems, and sudden onset of balance problems or difficulty walking. Anyone who experiences those symptoms should call 9-1-1.