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Mobile Infirmary
Medical Center
5 Mobile Infirmary Circle
Mobile, AL 36607
Phone: 251-435-2400
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Mobile in the Heart of the Stroke Belt
Everyone knows Mobile is considered part of the "Bible Belt," but did you know Mobile is also part of the "Stroke Belt?" Because Mobile is in the heart of the stroke belt and stroke is the number three killer in Alabama, Mobile Infirmary Medical Center along with Roger P. Tart, M.D., and many Infirmary employees, have started treating stroke with the aggressive medical care it deserves.
"I've been at Mobile Infirmary for 11 years. When I first came here, I discovered that Mobile Infirmary had one of the largest patient populations in the country with the diagnosis of stroke," Tart explained.
Tart, along with other neurologists, hospital administrators, emergency room personnel, neuro intensive care personnel, the neurology committee, Curtis Graf, M.D., Fritz Lacour, M.D., and the marketing/communications department, began to establish The Stroke Center. "We needed to establish an area of excellence to treat stroke patients with the cutting edge of technology," Tart added.
This "cutting edge" comes in the form of a revolutionary treatment, Thrombolysis, can actually stop stroke damage before it occurs. Mobile Infirmary Medical Center was the first hospital in the area to start this innovative treatment. There is a narrow window of opportunity in which this therapy can be used and candidacy for treatment depends on several factors; the time frame, clot size, age less than 80 years old, and lab tests (EKG, etc.).
"It's a wonderful therapy, but we still aren't getting patients early enough," Tart said. Using the analogy of a person who is having a heart attack, Tart explained that a person can feel their heart hurting, but people can't feel their brain hurting. The only symptom may be that they are not thinking clearly. Therefore, these people do not seek treatment early enough.
Mobile Infirmary strives to provide the best possible treatment available to our patients. In an effort to educate the community about the causes, effects and treatment options for stroke, we offer educational resources to the public. To receive a packet of information, please call (251) 435-2508.
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