Stroke Services

Stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain can't get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function, and the brain cells in that area start to die. Texoma Medical Center is ready to treat you with exceptional stroke care.

• Level II Primary Stroke Facility (Texas Department of Health Services)
• Primary Stroke Center (The Joint Commission)
• 24-hour stroke team and trained emergency department personnel
• Dedicated stroke unit

The quicker you receive medical treatment for stroke, the better your chances for a good outcome.

Time Means Brain, So Act F.A.S.T.*

Stroke can result in paralysis or weakness on one side of the body, vision problems, memory loss, thinking and reasoning problems, and difficulty speaking, understanding speech and swallowing. The severity of effects depends heavily on how fast a stroke victim receives medical treatment. Here are some tips from the American Heart Association's Stroke Association branch on quickly recognizing stroke. If you think you or someone around you may be experiencing stroke, don't wait — call 911.

Act F.A.S.T

F= FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A= ARMS: Ask the person to hold up both arms. Does one drift downward?

S=SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "Dick and Jane went on a picnic." Are the words slurred? Does the person repeat the phrase correctly?

T=TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is very important. Call 911immediately and get to the hospital fast. 

"Give Me 5"

1. Walk (is their balance off?)
2. Talk (Is their speech slurred or their face droopy?)
3. Reach (Is one side of the body weak or numb?)
4. See (Is their vision all or partly lost?)
5. Feel (Is their headache severe?) People often describe it as the worst headache of their life.

*Adapted from information from the American Stroke Association

Stroke Victim Makes Remarkable Progress

Ashley Philpott knew something was wrong as soon as he woke up in the morning. The 50-year old father of five was dragging his right foot when he walked. Later, he body felt as if it was on fire and he lost the ability to move on his right side. After seven days at the Reba McIntire Center for Rehabilitation, Ashley's progress was astounding. KXII recently visited Ashley to learn more about his story. See what KXII learned about Ashley Philpott and his experience.