News
Dr. Vasant Patel has gone to Haiti!
ARCADIA -- Last Friday morning, Dr. Vasant Patel was having breakfast with his wife when an
urgent televised plea seized his attention.
It was just after 9 a.m. and the DeSoto Memorial Hospital surgeon was scrolling through the
channels when he happened to stop on the local Fox News affiliate. At the moment, the Rev.
Kurt Holthus, founder of Hope International Ministries in North Fort Myers, was reaching
out to physicians, seeking their helping in providing relief efforts to the
earthquake-ravaged areas of Haiti.
"He said they needed more doctors, specifically, they needed a surgeon and if any surgeon
was listening to please call. I turned my head and looked at my wife and she shook her
head 'no.' I started shaking my head 'yes,'" he said.
Tuesday, Patel boarded a plane from Fort Lauderdale to the Dominican Republic. From there,
he said, he and the rest of the entourage will traverse the mountains that separate the two
tiny Caribbean countries.
The journey is a far cry from what Patel had planned for the week. "I had tickets. I was
flying to Virginia to see my parents and my brother for the first time in years," he said.
"But this was more important."
But the week will still be a family affair: accompanying Patel and a small contingency of
other physicians recruited by Holthus' organization will be Patel's two sons -- both recent
medical school graduates. "This will be a unique opportunity for them," he said. "It will
be a great experience for us to share."
Although Patel has previously provided disaster relief in his native India as a medical
student, the journey will also provide him with a first-time experience.
"I've never operated in a tent before. That's mostly where we will be working," he said.
Patel graduated from Baroda Medical College in India. In 1970 he completed a General
Surgery Residency in New York at the Catholic Medical Center, according to information
released by the hospital. He has been with DMH since 2007 as a general surgeon.
His latest gesture has won him even more admiration from his coworkers and hospital
administrators.
"The Hippocratic Oath is an old oath historically taken by doctors swearing to ethically
practice medicine. Dr. Vasant Patel has never forgotten his commitment to this oath. He is
a true humanitarian and we are extremely proud and humbled by his passion to aid his fellow
man," said hospital CEO Vince Sica.
DMH is celebrating the newly released HCAHPS results
Stroke Awareness
According to the National Stroke Association, more than 780,000 people suffer from stroke each year. The good news is that up to 80% of those can be prevented. High blood pressure is the number one cause of stroke. Make sure to have yours checked on a regular basis and follow your medical provider's recommendations for management of high blood pressure.
It is important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, Act F.A.S.T. and seek emergency medical attention. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember the following:
F = Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = Arms Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T= Time If you observe any of these signs, then it is time to call 9-1-1!
Studies show that patients who arrive at the hospital by ambulance receive quicker treatment than those that arrive by their own means.
DeSoto Memorial Hospital is committed to the healthcare of the community by providing advanced treatment for stroke. Emergency treatment with a clot busting drug called tPA can help minimize or eliminate disability after stroke. This drug must be given within 3 hours of onset of stroke symptoms, so it is important to recognize the symptoms and call 9-1-1.