South Texas Health System to Launch Stroke-Related Seminars

Held quarterly, the presentations aim to help healthcare providers stay up-to-date on latest advancements in the treatment of stroke

Strokes are dangerous, with the potential to cause permanent disability, even death. While stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, Hispanics face an even higher risk, according to the American Stroke Association, which lists stroke as the fourth-leading cause of death for Hispanic men and third for Hispanic women.

In the last year, South Texas Health System has seen a 22% increase in overall stroke admissions across the entire hospital system. Notably, there has been a 77% surge in transient ischemic attack (TIA) admissions from 2022 to 2023. While acute ischemic stroke (AIS) admissions have risen by 4%, hemorrhagic strokes have increased by 13% compared to the previous year.

The South Texas Health System Neurosciences & Stroke Institute is proud to enable the professional growth of health care providers in their respective fields by offering the latest knowledge and information to provide the best medical care for Valley residents.

This spring, as part of those efforts, South Texas Health System McAllen’s Comprehensive Stroke Center team and the STHS Education Department are joining forces will host the first in a series of continuing medical educational for local healthcare providers.

Entitled “Neuro Nights,” the educational seminars will be held every quarter on a different topic related to stroke care. The first event, “Neuro Nights: Understanding Stroke,” is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, at 6:00 p.m., at University Draft House Townlake in McAllen.

Led by Dr. Alexandros Georgiadis, an endovascular neurologist with South Texas Health System Clinics, the presentation will teach participants to identify different types of strokes, help them better understand the triaging of stroke patients for various available treatment options and allow them to comprehend the ICU management of hemorrhagic and acute ischemic strokes. Upon the completion of the seminar, participants will receive three continuing medical education (CME) credits.

The educational series hopes to teach healthcare providers, including physicians, medical residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical students, on the care of a diverse stroke population, including those with acute ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and aneurysmatic Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (aSAH).

The goal is also to ensure providers remain well-informed of the latest advancements in stroke technology.

“It’s important to provide the most up to date education and research findings related to the diagnosis and treatment of stroke to all medical providers, including primary care physicians and specialists in the Rio Grande Valley, a region with a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol among its residents that demands a vigilant and informed healthcare approach,” said Veronica Olivarez, Director of Neuroscience, South Texas Health System. “By hosting these continuing medical education courses, we’re aiming to empower medical professionals to prioritize important stroke awareness among their patients through risk-factor reduction, including life-saving lifestyle modification efforts, and education on the swift action required at the onset of stroke symptoms.”

Through these seminars, South Texas Health System aims to curb the rise in stroke cases locally and help drive down the number of preventable stroke deaths within the Hispanic community.

“Unlocking the potential for better stroke outcomes in the Hispanic community begins with physician education,” Georgiadis said.

For more information about the South Texas Health System Neuroscience & Stroke Institute, please visit www.southtexashealthsystemmcallen.com.