MISSION – A Mission area man who was treated for double-vision at Mission Regional Medical Center is now helping to educate the community about the signs and symptoms of stroke – and the critical importance of seeking emergency care right away if you or a loved one displays those warning signs.
Michael Frederick, a resident of Hidden Valley Ranch RV Park in Palm view, said that when he suddenly started having vision problems he called the Veterans Administration clinic in McAllen, who advised him to go right away to the emergency room at Mission Regional.
At the hospital, Mr. Frederick was surprised at how many tests were performed, including lab tests. In his case, an MRI of the brain eventually ruled out the possibility of a major stroke — but he did show symptoms of a “Transient ischemic attack”, sometimes referred to as a “mini-stroke”.
While at the hospital, Mr. Frederick learned a lot about the warning signs of stroke, and the importance of seeking emergency help without delay, from talking to the doctors and nurses at Mission Regional.
In fact, Mr. Frederick was so impressed with the important information that he received that, upon returning home, he began to distribute educational information on “brain attacks” to other residents of Hidden Valley, as well as at other RV parks.
“I play pool and pickleball at different parks … and I will ask people what would they do if their lip started drooping down … or if their vision suddenly went bad,” Mr. Frederick said. “I give them brochures on ‘BE-FAST’ so they will know about the warning signs of stroke – and know that they need to go immediately to the nearest ER.”
Mr. Frederick received the educational flyers and posters on stroke from Blanca Hernandez Perez, RN, MSN, Chest Pain & Stroke Coordinator at Mission Regional, who was one of the nurses who checked on him while he was at the hospital.
“I think it’s excellent that this patient is not only educating his wife and family about stroke, he’s extending all this knowledge he learned in the hospital to his neighbors,” Ms. Hernandez Perez said. “I think that’s great. I’m really excited that he’s sharing this information with the community!”
Aurora Magaly Rocha, MSN, RN, Trauma & Stroke Manager at Mission Regional Medical Center, said that as Mr. Frederick discovered, it’s important to know the warning signs of stroke — and to call 911 without delay if you see any symptoms of stroke in a loved one or another person.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Frederick said that Mission Regional has a very good program.
“I appreciate that we have this facility available here,” he added.
While at Mission Regional, Mr. Frederick received care from a team of specialized physicians and nurses — including Dr. Heriberto Alanis, emergency physician; Dr. Adam Graham, tele-neurologist; and Dr. Daniel Ibarias, hospitalist– as well as evaluations by a physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, and other specialists.
Less than a month after his discharge, Mr. Frederick was feeling well enough to return to Mission Regional on a motorcycle – this time to pick up more educational information to distribute to his neighbors.
Mission Regional Medical Center is certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, the national accrediting organization for healthcare organizations. In addition, Mission Regional Medical Center has received the “Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Award” from the American Heart Association.
Mission Regional also utilizes cutting-edge “Viz.ai” technology, in partnership with DHR, to help stroke patients receive rapid treatment — as well as the most appropriate treatment — since every minute counts when it comes to the effect of strokes on the brain.
In addition, Mission Regional is the only hospital in Hidalgo County which has received an “A” grade for patient safety each and every year for the past five years in a row (from 2020 to 2025), according to The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit healthcare ratings organization.
Mission Regional was also the first hospital in Hidalgo County to be accredited and then re-accredited as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians. This accreditation recognizes that the hospital is committed to the highest standards of care for older adults.
For more information on award-winning medical care in the Mission area, please consult your physician and contact Mission Regional Medical Center at 956-323-9000 or visit www.missionrmc.org.