2006 Press Releases
Rome Memorial Hospital Health Night Focus on the Warning Signs, Treatment & Prevention of Strokes ROME – Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability in the United States and the third single leading cause of death. In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month, Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 N. James St., will be discussing stroke at its monthly Health Night lecture series 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in the Hospital’s classroom. The speakers, Mary Lou Kunkel, R.N., C.R.R.N., program director for Rome Memorial Hospital’s 14-bed Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit and Robert Hartnett, LPN, coordinator for the unit’s “Starting Now” stroke education program, will present “Warning Signs, Treatment and Prevention of Strokes.” Kunkel and Hartnett will discuss the importance of recognizing symptoms of stroke and seeking immediate medical attention. They will also discuss risk factors and early warning signs such as Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs). TIAs are short, neurological problems where symptoms diminish. An example might be waking up with numbness in your arm and ignoring it because it goes away after a few hours. “Eighty percent of strokes are preventable through change of diet, exercise, and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” said Hartnett. “By recognizing the signs and symptoms and making simple lifestyle changes, patients can significantly reduce their risk for a stroke,” he added. “Rehabilitation is an important part of recovering from a stroke,” said Kunkel. “Through rehabilitation, you relearn or regain basic skills such as speaking, eating, dressing, and walking. The goal is to improve function so that you become as independent as possible,” she added. Kunkel has been the program director of the hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit since 1999. Building on her nursing degree from Mohawk Valley Community College, Kunkel pursued her rehabilitation training at the Chicago Institute of Rehabilitation. She is a certified rehabilitation registered nurse. Before joining Rome Memorial Hospital, Kunkel served as director of clinical services at the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, New Hartford, and nurse manager of the rehabilitation unit at Faxton Hospital, Utica. Hartnett has been the coordinator of the hospital’s “Starting Now” program for two years and has over 15 years experience as a nurse in the rehabilitation field. “Starting Now” is an education and training program for stroke patients and their families developed by the American Stroke Association. It reinforces lifestyle changes and management of risk factors, which may result in a healthier individual. Accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Rome Memorial Hospital’s 14-bed rehabilitation unit helps patients regain the greatest level of functional independence possible through physical, occupational and speech therapy. The individualized treatment plans combine comprehensive therapy with emotional support to help patients reach their goals after a debilitating injury or illness, such as a stroke. Health Night is a free monthly lecture series. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. | 
