Stroke Survivors Push for Deeper Clinical Dialogue at UAMS Conference

UAMS healthcare experts and a stroke survivor presented a detailed look at the financial and operational challenges of acute stroke care during the eighth annual UAMS Stroke Conference held on Oct. 2.

The event, themed "Piecing Together the Next Era of Stroke Care," took place at the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute. It brought together professionals from vascular neurology, neurosurgery, and palliative care to address pre-hospital, acute, and post-acute protocols.

Garrett Whisenhunt, clinical coordinator for Metropolitan Emergency Management Service, outlined the specific data points paramedics must collect before transport. He stated that medics do not need to definitively diagnose a stroke versus a mimic in the field. Instead, their primary job is to establish a timeline, determine the patient's last known well time, and protect the clinical pathway.

Whisenhunt warned that paramedics often suffer from anchoring bias, where they rely too heavily on the first piece of information received. He emphasized that EMS providers must hand over timelines, baselines, and intervention responses to hospital staff to ensure prompt treatment.

Brittney Sanchez, M.D., MPH, a UAMS emergency medicine resident, described the receiving side of that communication loop. She noted that emergency room crews must ask paramedics about the patient's medications and how full their bottles are. She also stated that a blood sugar test is mandatory for every patient to rule out hypoglycemia, a condition that can mimic stroke symptoms.

Randal Birdwell, a project manager from Morrilton who suffered a stroke in July 2024, described the economic and personal burden of long-term recovery. He said that while he may appear independent, he continues to experience nerve pain, phantom pain, and altered sensations that require significant cognitive effort.

Birdwell urged clinicians to move beyond reassurances that his recovery is normal. He suggested that providers ask specific questions about daily changes and the need for referrals, noting that deficits often become clearer only after a patient leaves the hospital. His wife, Misty, and their two children were present at the conference to support him.