Right place, right time, right care: How AdventHealth’s seamless connected care saved a stroke patient’s life

ORLANDO, Fla. – When Linda Vick scheduled an appointment with Dr. Mitesh Lotia, medical director for movement disorders at AdventHealth’s Neuroscience Institute, she was seeking help for a hand tremor that she had lived with for over 50 years. She never imagined that this routine visit would turn into a life-saving moment.

During her evaluation at the outpatient clinic, Lotia asked Linda to count using her right and left hands. But when she tried to lift her left hand, it wouldn’t move. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Lotia immediately performed a stroke protocol examination and diagnosed her with an acute stroke.

Without hesitation, Dr. Lotia instructed his nurse navigator to call 911 and activated a stroke alert. He was able to quickly speak with the ER physician and update them on the situation, ensuring the hospital was ready for Linda’s arrival. Within moments, emergency medical technicians arrived and transported Linda to AdventHealth Orlando’s emergency room, where a specialized team was already in place to continue her care.

“When I arrived at the ER, it felt like there was a welcome committee of at least 10 people who already knew I was coming,” she said, amazed by the rapid response and coordination between the clinic and hospital. “They moved quickly, drawing blood, performing X-rays and getting me a CT scan right away.”

The scan revealed a small but active brain bleed, and her care team worked to stabilize her high blood pressure, which had started to rapidly rise back in the outpatient clinic. With the swift transfer to the ER and urgent correction of her blood pressure by the ER team, a much larger stroke was potentially avoided. Linda was then admitted to the Neurological Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring.

“How lucky is it that Linda was with the right physician at the right moment when she developed hand weakness?” said Dr. Edgardo Rodriguez, emergency medicine physician at AdventHealth Orlando. “Thanks to Dr. Lotia’s quick action, we were able to diagnose and treat her stroke immediately.”

“I have never experienced such happiness at a hospital,” Linda said of her three days at AdventHealth Orlando. “It was like a breath of fresh air. The care I received was wonderful – like being at Disney World, the happiest place on earth.”

Throughout her stay, her care team worked to identify the root cause of her high blood pressure to help prevent future complications. One moment that took Linda by surprise was when Lotia visited her in the ER. “I was so taken aback – and so pleased – that he stopped by,” she shared. “That kind of care and concern meant the world to me.”

Linda’s story is a testament to the power of connected, expert-driven care at AdventHealth. From a neurologist’s outpatient clinic to the emergency department and into the ICU, her journey demonstrates AdventHealth’s efforts in providing seamless coordinated care when it matters most.

“Our goal is always to provide whole-person care and act swiftly when seconds matter,” said Lotia. “This case highlights the importance of expertise and rapid response in ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Now recovering well, Linda remains grateful for the care that saved her life.

“I went in for a tremor and left with my life saved,” Linda said. “I never expected that appointment to turn into such a critical moment, but thanks to Dr. Lotia and the entire team at AdventHealth, I’m here today. It was a scary situation, but I never felt alone. I know I was exactly where I needed to be.”