Local stroke patient gets successful treatment at Inova’s Lorton HealthPlex

Expert care in his time of need 

Having just moved to Lorton, John and Joanne Donahue were still growing accustomed to their new surroundings. But last May, when they needed help and they needed it fast, they knew just where to go.

It was 4 a.m. when John, 78, woke up and was unable to move his left side. He felt confused and had difficulty speaking. Fearing his symptoms were serious, Joanne rushed him to Inova HealthPlex – Lorton, a state-of-the-art full-service healthcare facility offering 24-hour emergency, radiology and laboratory services.

“The people at Inova HealthPlex were wonderful,” says Joanne. “They saw us driving in, they saw the headlights and they came out to the car. Somebody said, ‘Let′s go!’ and they were out with a stretcher in minutes. When I was parking the car they already had done the CT scan.”

Diagnostic imaging, a service provided 24/7 at the HealthPlex, revealed that John had experienced a stroke. Fortunately, he was in the care of highly skilled specialists. The HealthPlex is provided by Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, one of five Inova hospitals designated as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission for stroke care excellence.

Always Open

Because of the speed of the expert staff and the proximity of the HealthPlex to their home, John was diagnosed and treated in the window of time when treatment is most effective. He was cared for by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses specially trained in emergency medicine.

“The services we offer extend from minor care all the way up to resuscitation,” says Medical Director Michael Shuster, MD, FACEP. “We operate under the same rules and regulations any hospital is under, and we follow all the standards for the Joint Commission for Hospital Accreditation.”

Wait times at the Lorton HealthPlex are much shorter than at other facilities.

“We’re newer and we′re smaller, so our wait times are decreased compared to a regular hospital-based Emergency Department,” says Cathy Ford, RN.

For the Donahues, being in a small, friendly environment helped put them at ease.

“You’re kind of frightened by the whole thing, and they just took over,” he says. “I felt like I was in good hands. They took away the fear I had.”

The Right Moves

After receiving emergency stroke care at Inova HealthPlex – Lorton, John was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital via ambulance. After two days, John returned home where he commenced physical therapy for six weeks. A home health nurse came to the house two days a week to help him regain his physical and mental functioning.

He then enrolled in outpatient therapy at Inova Mount Vernon Rehabilitation Center, a state-of-the-art facility that offers rehabilitation services for patients who have experienced a stroke or other cerebrovascular conditions. Joanne was thrilled at how proactive the center was in helping them establish their first appointment.

“They were wonderful,” says Joanne. “I didn’t have to make many calls. They just took over and he went right into outpatient therapy.”

Back to Active

With his balance and motor function fully restored, John is back to playing tennis and driving wherever he needs to go. He feels grateful that Inova HealthPlex – Lorton was nearby when he needed it.

“There were no second thoughts. We just went there because we knew it was there,” says John.

When he isn′t on the tennis court, he participates in a book club with friends, attends family events and serves on the finance committee at the condominium where he and Joanne now live.

Convenient Care

Inova HealthPlex – Lorton offers 24-hour emergency, imaging and laboratory services for patients of all ages.

The Emergency Department, staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians and dedicated emergency nurses, offers a full array of services for treating chest pain, shortness of breath, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute abdominal pain, burns and lacerations, orthopedic injuries and pediatric emergency care.

The HealthPlex also provides comprehensive 24/7 radiology services, including X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound, plus scheduled exams for digital X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, bone densitometry and digital mammography featuring 3-D mammography.

Patients can obtain comprehensive lab work in the full-service 24-hour laboratory.

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

Call or schedule an appointment at Inova HealthPlex –Lorton for the following Emergency Services

703.982.8400

Radiology Services

703.982.8310

Laboratory Services

703.982.8302

Call 911 for Stroke

When it comes to stroke, immediate medical attention is critical. A stroke occurs when a clot or ruptured blood vessel in the brain blocks blood flow to the brain. Immediate care increases the chance of a full recovery. According to the American Heart Association, an easy way to spot stroke symptoms is to recognize a stroke F.A.S.T.:

  • Face drooping – Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop or is it numb?
  • Arm weakness – Ask the person to lift both arms. Is one arm lowering?
  • Speech difficulty – Ask the person to speak. Is his or her speech slurred?
  • Time to call 911 – If they have any of these symptoms, call 911 and get them to a hospital.

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