UAMS IDHI Stroke Program

10/29/2025

🌍 World Stroke Day is observed every year on October 29th to raise global awareness about stroke, its prevention, treatment, and the vital importance of timely action.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide. This day highlights the devastating impact stroke can have on individuals, families, and communities.

Early recognition of stroke symptoms and rapid medical response are critical to saving lives and improving recovery outcomes. Knowing the signs could mean the difference between full recovery and lifelong impairment.

We urge everyone to learn the signs and remember to BE FAST:

B – Sudden loss of balance or coordination

E – Vision changes in one or both eyes

F – Face drooping or uneven smile

A – Arm weakness or numbness

S – Slurred or strange speech

T – Time to call 911 immediately

⏳ When it comes to stroke, time is brain — every second counts. Early treatment saves lives and improves outcomes.

08/29/2025

A stroke doesn’t just affect one person—it touches the entire family. The UAMS Institute for Digital Health and Innovation Stroke Program ensures survivors and their loved ones have the resources, education, and care they need during the hardest moments.

08/15/2025

Since joining forces with the UAMS Institute for Digital Health and Innovation Stroke Program, CHI Morrilton has worked hand-in-hand to provide lifesaving stroke care. Today, we’re proud to share their very first stroke survivor story — a testament to quick action, compassionate teamwork, and the power of collaboration. This recognition marks the beginning of many stories of hope, healing, and recovery still to come.

07/17/2025

The IDHI Stroke Program: Saving Lives Across Arkansas

At the IDHI Stroke Program, we're proud to be on the front lines of stroke care, delivering rapid, expert treatment 24/7 to every corner of Arkansas — rural or urban — through telemedicine and dedicated stroke response teams.
Every day, we:
• Connect stroke patients with neurologists in minutes
• Administer lifesaving clot-busting treatments quickly and safely
• Train nurses, EMS teams, and hospital staff on evidence-based stroke protocols
• Educate the public about stroke symptoms and prevention through community outreach and interactive Mega Brain events
• Support survivors and families throughout their recovery

Survivor Spotlight:
"I sat down at my desk to work on engineering drawings, searching for my favorite pencil when, suddenly, items on the desk appeared to shift. My first reaction was, “This is strange.” Disoriented and dizzy, I quickly recognized that something was seriously wrong.

– Randal Birdwell, Stroke Survivor from Morrilton, AR

From the bedside to the community, we’re committed to reducing stroke deaths and improving outcomes across the state. The work we do is saving lives.

10/29/2024

Today is ! Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. will have a stroke--knowing the signs and symptoms can help save a life!

Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance?
Eye – Is there a change in vision in one or both eyes?
Face – Does their face droop or look uneven? Ask the person to smile.
Arm – Is one arm numb or arm weak?
Speech – Does their speech sound slurred or strange?
Time - Call 911 and get to the hospital immediately. Time Is Brain!

PSA raising awareness for stroke signs and symptoms

09/17/2024

Join us this Saturday, September 21, at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / ArkansasOnline.com Health & Wellness Expo at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock! This is a FREE event that will offer free health screenings, the UAMS Mammovan, physician panels, a car and truck show, and our very own mini brain! Stop by and check it out from 9 am - 1 pm!

09/17/2024

Atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, is a heart condition affecting at least 2.7 million Americans. It is a heart arrhythmia, meaning the heart beats abnormally. This arrhythmia increases the risk of clot formation which can cause stroke! If you or a loved one are living with A-Fib, make sure you take time to know the signs and symptoms of stroke using BE FAST:
B-Balance difficulties
E-Eyesight changes

F-Facial weakness or drooping
A-Arm weakness or numbness
S-Speech changes
T-Time to call 911

08/05/2024

It's August, which means back-to-school season is in full swing! As you're preparing to send your kids back to school, we invite you to share this video and help them learn the signs and symptoms of stroke.

Strokes can happen to anyone at any age at any time, and teaching our kids about how to recognize stroke may save a life!

Stroke Awareness PSA for K-12

08/01/2024

We want to extend a huge congratulations to all of our partnering sites that were recently given awards for their performance in stroke care by the American Heart Association. Each year, the AHA uses data from Get With the Guidelines, a registry platform, to determine award recipients based on several performance indicators. Several of our partnering hospitals received awards for Target Stroke , including:

Baptist Health Arkadelphia & North Little Rock
Northwest Health Bentonville
Izard Regional Hospital
Johnson Regional Medical Center
Conway Regional Health System
Baptist Health Fort Smith & Van Buren
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center
Wadley Regional Medical Center at Hope
CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs
St. Bernards Healthcare
St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center
Saint Mary's Regional Health System
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital

Use this link to learn more about the awards and see the full list of Arkansas award recipients.

How to find heart and stroke care near you, measured by the American Heart Association.

07/26/2024

Did you know we partner with 63 hospitals around the state, including Saline Memorial Hospital, to provide telemedicine stroke consults? This ensures that no matter where you are, if stroke happens, you have access to quality stroke care close to home.

We are so thankful for our partnering sites around the state and the work they do in their communities!

To see a list of all of our partnering spoke and receiving hospital sites, please follow this link: https://idhi.uams.edu/stroke-program/participating-hospitals/

In an emergency, you need care you can trust. Our emergency department is a Level III trauma center, which means it has demonstrated the ability to provide advanced trauma life support (ATLS) prior to the transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center.

We are also a designated stroke center, utilizing telemedicine through UAMS IDHI Stroke Program, and an accredited Chest Pain Center, which means we have a higher level of expertise in caring for heart attacks, chest pains and more.

And we’re open 24/7, to help you stay healthy, right here in your community. So when you need emergency medical care, don’t wait! Visit Saline Memorial Hospital. Trust us to help you live your healthiest life. Learn more at SalineMemorial.org/Emergency-Medicine.