Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Knowing the Symptoms of Stroke Saves Lives


Dr. Zachary Lutsky earned his medical degree from the Chicago School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For over 12 years, Dr. Zachary Lutsky delivered medical care to trauma patients at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

Strokes are one of the leading causes of death and disability for Americans and one of the major reasons for emergency room visits. Obtaining fast medical attention is key to recovering from a stroke and preventing long-term damage. Fatalities due to strokes have decreased in recent years due to easier access to treatment centers and an effective awareness campaign launched by many stroke and heart health associations.

One campaign has popularized the acronym FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) to help people remember and identify the early symptoms of stroke. FAST means that if you notice face drooping, weakness in the arms, or slurred speech, now is the time to call 911 and request medical help. Arriving at the hospital within three hours of the first signs of stroke greatly reduces a patient’s likelihood of developing stroke-related disabilities later on.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

How ER Professionals Can Stay Calm in Stressful Situations


A graduate of Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University, Dr. Zachary Lutsky has spent more than two decades working as an emergency physician. Most recently working as an attending physician at the emergency department for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Zachary Lutsky handled every type of medical emergency, including heart attacks and car accident injuries.

Here are a couple of tips to help ER professionals stay calm when things get stressful:

- Be prepared for any situation. The more knowledge you have, the easier it is to stay calm. For this reason, ER professionals must be prepared for all kinds of different situations.

- Communicate. Communication in the emergency room is key to ensuring patients are properly cared for. Throughout an emergency, ER professionals are either listening or talking. This constant communication with patients, patients’ family members, and other hospital workers allows ER professionals to work as efficiently as possible.