Understanding Stroke Assistance: Key Information
Medical care for stroke patients is provided at no cost as part of the state medical guarantee program.
Free hospitalization is available for individuals brought in by emergency medical teams, transferred from other healthcare facilities, or those who arrive in urgent condition on their own.
In Odessa, three multidisciplinary hospitals provide inpatient care for stroke patients, having signed agreements with the National Health Service of Ukraine: City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, and No. 11.
Stroke care includes an initial examination by a neurologist or neurosurgeon, as well as neuroimaging, which should be performed no later than 60 minutes after the patient's arrival at the medical facility.
These Odessa hospitals are equipped with CT scanners and modern angiographs.
The guaranteed package of free medical services for stroke includes monitoring of health indicators, anesthetic support, thrombolytic therapy for ischemic strokes, and round-the-clock laboratory tests in accordance with industry standards.
Rehabilitation for stroke patients should begin as soon as possible after hospitalization. In the first 72 hours, a speech therapist or language therapist consultation is provided, along with psychological support.
Inpatient rehabilitation in Odessa is conducted at City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, and City Hospital No. 8.
Outpatient rehabilitation services for stroke patients are available at City Clinical Hospitals No. 1, No. 10, No. 11, City Hospital No. 8, and Consultative-Diagnostic Center No. 29.
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The success of stroke treatment heavily depends on how quickly a patient reaches the hospital and receives specialized medical care. Recognizing stroke symptoms is crucial.
You can remember the signs of stroke using the acronym BRAIN:
- Speech: difficulty speaking;
- Face: sudden asymmetry;
- Balance: loss of coordination;
- Eyes: sudden vision changes;
- Limbs: weakness on one side.
To check for a stroke, ask the person to smile, say a simple sentence, or raise their arms. If they struggle with any of these tasks, call 103! immediately!
