SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Auxiliary Donates $50,000 for Stroke Technology

SIH Brain and Spine Institute will add a key piece of technology to their capabilities inside the hospital and in their outpatient clinic, thanks to a generous donation from the SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Auxiliary.

The gift to the SIH Foundation funds a transcranial doppler for the neurosciences program. The transcranial doppler is a non-invasive ultrasound device which allows physicians to see blood vessels inside the brain to assess damage from stroke, aneurysm or other types of head trauma.

With the use of the transcranial doppler, neurologists can quickly and reliably determine if there is a problem with the blood vessels and pressure in the brain, explained Dr. Jonatan Hornik. This means patients won't need to be transferred outside of the region for this specific test, greatly expanding our local capabilities.

"It helps to reveal and prevent serious complications that can occur in patients with brain bleed and head trauma. It also helps with evaluating problems of high pressure in the brain in certain patients who are confused or experience headaches. In the community, transcranial doppler will also be used to help patients with sickle cell disease determine who is at risk of having a stroke in the near future and guide treatment to prevent it," added Dr. Hornik.

The MHC Auxiliary funds their major gifts through sales at the Pink Geranium gift shop and other auxiliary and volunteer-related fundraisers throughout the year.