Spectrum News: Mobile stroke unit getting treatment to patients faster
Every second counts for a patient experiencing a stroke, and the UC Health Mobile Stroke Unit helps treat patients faster.
Spectrum News recently highlighted the mobile stroke unit and the story of patient Don Mundy, who was treated in the mobile stroke unit about three months ago.
The specially designed ambulance is outfitted with a number of tools including a CT scanner, clot-busting medication and an iPad to consult in real time with a doctor reading the scans.
“For every minute that goes by, we think that a million and a half brain cells die, it truly is minutes make a difference and if we’re able to get that clot-busting medication in the first 60 minutes of when the stroke is happening, those patients do that much better,” said Christopher T. Richards, MD, assistant professor in the University of Cincinnati's Department of Emergency Medicine in the College of Medicine, medical director of the UC Health Mobile Stroke Unit and a UC Health emergency physician.
UC Health estimates the mobile stroke unit has helped approximately 450 patients in the Cincinnati area, including Mundy.
“I absolutely appreciate what they’ve done,” Mundy told Spectrum News.
Watch or read the Spectrum News story.
Featured photo at top of UC Health's mobile stroke unit courtesy of UC Health.
Remember how to identify a stroke
Because of the quick onset of stroke, it is important to know the FAST mnemonic device that details the most common signs of stroke and how to respond:
- F: Facial drooping
- A: Arm or leg drop, or weakness in the arm or leg
- S: Speech issues, such as slurred speech or an inability to get your words out
- T: Time is of the essence; call 911 immediately
Related Stories
Three years, countless stories
May 15, 2026
UC's Klekamp Law celebrates its 193rd Hooding with stories from graduates reflecting on their paths through the college.
Driven by curiosity, guided by care
May 14, 2026
Max Wilson, a University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences health sciences major on the pre-physician assistant track, found his path expanding beyond the classroom and into hands-on research focused on human performance and patient care.
New cohort of nursing students get ready to join co-ops
May 14, 2026
A new chapter is beginning for more than 100 University of Cincinnati College of Nursing rising seniors as they embark on one of the most distinctive experiences in undergraduate nursing education: the UC Nursing Co-op Program. The incoming cohort will fan out across Cincinnati's premier healthcare institutions, stepping into some of the most dynamic and specialized clinical environments in the region. Placement sites include UC Medical Center (UCMC), West Chester Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Burnet, College Hill, and Liberty campus.