VPH's stroke center receives S. Mark Taper Foundation grant

The S. Mark Taper Foundation awarded a grant of $30,000 to Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) for its Stroke Center, a state-of-the-art facility using the latest in telemedicine and diagnostic tools to ensure the best possible outcomes for its patients, Gustavo Valdespino, President and CEO of VPH, announced today.

"We are very grateful to the S. Mark Taper Foundation for this generous gift and for its recognition of Valley Presbyterian Hospital's exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients," said Mr. Valdespino. "With this gift, we can further advance the essential care we provide to patients in our stroke center and continue to move forward with the latest in advanced telemedicine to make certain stroke patients will have the immediate access they need to care."

A stroke, which is sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The Centers for Disease Control report that 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year, and 137,000 of them die.

VPH was designated as a Primary Stroke Center in June because of its proven ability to provide the effective and timely care to stroke victims that can significantly improve outcomes. By achieving this designation, it provided a closer location for surrounding residents to quickly access stroke care.

VPH's use of the latest in telemedicine—which includes a two-way communications system that it calls RoboDoc—helped it achieve Primary Stroke Center certification. With two-way audio and video communication, RoboDoc makes it possible for the physician to be at another location and examine and speak directly to patients, receive input from the resident medical team and then advise the medical team on treatments and therapies.

"With strokes, time is of the essence in assessment and treatment," said Mr. Valdespino said. "We are proud of Valley Presbyterian Hospital's cutting-edge technology because it offers quicker assessment and treatment to stroke patients so that they can have the best possible outcomes."