Modern Technology Fuels Advancements in Treatment and Survival Rates.

Today, in the U.S., every 40 seconds someone will experience a stroke. When a stroke occurs, blood flow to the brain ceases, and brain cells—devoid of oxygen—begin to die. Depending on the location and severity, an untreated stroke may cause disability or even death. Understanding how to prevent and treat symptoms of stroke can literally save your life. Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, in collaboration with Newsday HealthLink, offers the following life-saving information for you and your loved ones in the event of a stroke.

1. Know the Signs of Stroke and Act F.A.S.T.

When it comes to Stroke, time is of the essence and knowing the warning signs and acting F.A.S.T. can make all the difference for the patient.

FACE DROOPING — Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided? 

ARM WEAKNESS — Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? 

SPEECH DIFFICULTY— Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the person able to correctly repeat the words?

TIME TO CALL 9-1-1 — If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and say, “I think this is a stroke” to help get the person to the hospital immediately. Time is important! Don’t delay, and also note the time when the first symptoms appeared. Emergency responders will want to know.

2. Get to a Hospital Stat

After signs and symptoms are evaluated, a brain CT scan follows to check for bleeding or damage to brain cells. If the patient arrives within 3 to 4.5 hours of symptom onset, tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) the “gold standard” of treatment will be administered intravenously to bust the clot.

3. The Game Changer

Now, aside from tPA, there’s a game-changing method called mechanical thrombectomy which extends the timeframe to treat those suffering more severe stroke symptoms. This endovascular surgical procedure is minimally invasive and allows patients with devastating strokes to return back to their normal functions.

4. How it Works

To remove the brain clot, a catheter is inserted into the groin [A], threaded through the aorta and up to the brain [B]. There, a stent, acting like a fish net, suctions and pulls the clot out allowing blood to flow once again [C]. This advanced treatment can be administered up to six hours after stroke onset and is now performed at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

Bringing the Future of Stroke Care to the Community

Kimon Bekelis, MD, has recently joined Good Samaritan Hospital and will serve as the Director of the Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center. Dr. Bekelis is one of the most prominent researchers in stroke care and treatment in the nation. Under the leadership of Dr. Bekelis, the Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center’s neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, neurologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses with extensive training in neurological critical care, and the use of advanced monitoring technology, will provide comprehensive and continuous bedside care to patients during their recovery. Thorough diagnostic evaluation, careful monitoring, and innovative treatment techniques will help the Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center team ensure the best possible outcome for each individual patient. For more information, please visit http://www.good-samaritan-hospital.org/strokebraincenter.

Written by Marie Wolf. Source: Dr. Kimon Bekelis, Chairman of Neurointerventional Services for Catholic Health Services of Long Island, and Director of the Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

P.C. Richard & Son has been family-owned and operated for five generations. The tradition of Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability was started 108 years ago by Pieter Christian Richard (1st generation), upheld by A.J. Richard (2nd generation), Gary Richard (3rd generation), Gregg Richard (4th generation), and Scott Richard (5th generation).

Meet the Family Who Started It All

P.C. Richard & Son’s Peter Richard III, Bonni Richard-Rondinello, Gary Richard, Scott Richard & Gregg Richard – President & CEO.

The P.C. Richard & Son team is humbled and excited to be celebrating their 108^_th anniversary. Gregg Richard, President & CEO, fondly describes, “Throughout the years, our 2,700 team members have added their personal touch to our company. Everyone plays a role in what makes us great! Everything we do is for the people—our employees and communities—and to continue the legacy of P.C. Richard & Son. We love helping our customers find products that fit their needs and work best for them and their families. Between deliveries, installations, and appliance services, we are knocking on 5,000 customers’ doors each day. We thank our customers, employees, and partners from the bottom of our hearts for making our 108^_th birthday possible.”

From Hardware to High-Tech – P.C. Richard & Son Through the Years

In 1909, Pieter Christian Richard (“P.C.”) laid the foundation of his family’s hardware store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, that his son, A.J., the official founder, would later transform into a regional retailer. By the 1920’s, the family hardware store relocated to Ozone Park, Queens. A.J. expanded the inventory to include appliances with clothes irons as the entry product; a turning point for a remarkable business opportunity.

P.C. Richard & Son – In Homes and Hearts for 108 Years and Counting!

In 1924, the family hardware store relocated to Ozone Park, Queens, NY, and A.J. expanded the inventory.

As the nation shifted from gas lighting to electrification in the 1920s, an array of home appliances began to surface. A.J. started to sell them, transforming P.C.’s hardware store into an appliance retailer. Clothes irons were the entry product, and the business later grew to include toasters, mixers, fans, waffle irons, meat grinders, and large appliances like washers and refrigerators. As A.J. once recalled, “The electric iron was the acorn that gave me my start and eventually opened the door to my growth into the electric appliance business.”

A.J. developed the basis of the company motto, “We Service What We Sell,” during the Golden Age of Radio.

In 1929, A.J. began selling Zenith radios in the family’s hardware store. Zenith produced several models of five-tube radios, and A.J. stocked them all! These early radios were quite temperamental, and not many owners knew how to fix them when they had glitches. Factory service on radios and other home electronics was not good at the time, so A.J. made sure to learn the ins and outs of radio technology. He taught himself how to troubleshoot and repair the products he sold, which allowed him to create a distinct reputation for customer service. P.C. Richard & Son quickly became known for standing behind their products, a unique aspect of the company. If a customer’s radio ever suddenly stopped working, they found reassurance in knowing they could call P.C. Richard & Son for help.

P.C. Richard & Son was a pioneer in television, displaying a TV in their Ozone Park showroom throughout World War II.

TVs were introduced at the New York World’s Fair in 1939 and had been manufactured before the start of World War II, but most production was halted until the war was over. Demand was high and TVs were costly. In fact, GE produced a direct-view TV model that cost $600—almost $7,000 in today’s money. Recognizing they were a rare and hot commodity, A.J. decided to mount a 10” GE TV in the window of the Ozone Park showroom for the neighborhood to watch Fight Night boxing matches broadcasted from Madison Square Garden. Huge crowds gathered on the sidewalk, drawing attention to the business.

P.C. Richard & Son has 66 showrooms located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

The company currently includes three distribution centers, two service centers, and four A.J. Richard Learning Centers. Their online and showroom inventory has grown to be bigger and better than ever. Their growing selection includes categories such as appliances and housewares, TV and video, mattresses and foundations, home furnishings like recliners, home and portable audio, computers and tablets, video games, smart home, car audio, home office, and more. P.C. Richard & Son’s website (www.pcrichard.com) showcases their growing selection of products. Their virtual A.J. Richard Learning Center, filled with informative videos and blogs, was created to share product knowledge and guide customers through their purchase decisions. P.C. Richard & Son showrooms have now incorporated Mattress Galleries with top brands such as Stearns & Foster, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic at the guaranteed lowest prices, Mobile Installation Centers, Designer Appliance Centers, Mac Computer Centers, and premium television displays. With their high-tech TV walls that are now being installed in all stores, customers can experience TV technologies with easy-to-use demonstrations that highlight features and benefits. Customers can put each model to the test with a tablet interface and quickly switch to a live broadcast with the touch of a button, seeing the differences between televisions in real time. There is no stopping P.C. Richard & Son, and their team celebrates the past 108 years while excitedly looking forward to all the future holds.

Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability – The Core Values of P.C. Richard & Son

The company’s founder, Alfred J. Richard (A.J.), developed a strong reputation for excellent customer service throughout the years and lead the charge in developing P.C. Richard & Son into what it is today. As A.J. often put it, “Richard IS Reliable;” words in which the company still lives by. His values of Honesty, Integrity, and Reliability are forever engraved in the company’s culture, and his legacy lives on.

P.C. Richard & Son’s success is based upon their employees. At the corporate headquarters, team members’ unique backgrounds and talents merge. Working together, developing ideas, and learning from each other is an important part of the business. In their 66 showrooms, knowledgeable and helpful salespeople and managers continuously strive to uphold the key values. They are trained in the company’s A.J. Richard Learning Centers to explain the benefits and features of any appliances or technology their customers are interested in. It is P.C. Richard & Son’s mission to make every customer’s experience a great one.  

P.C. Richard & Son Employee Pricing Happening Now

Visit any P.C. Richard & Son showroom for exceptional savings throughout the store. 

To find a P.C. Richard & Son location near you, visit pcrichard.com