OhioHealth ‘Family’ Saves Coworker From Stroke Emergency

Jeffrey Hall, Practice Administrator for General Surgery at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital and OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, recently returned to work after suffering a stroke at the end of last year. 

Hall was on site just 12 hours after the World Trade Center was struck on September 11, 2001. A former medic with experience treating stroke patients, he now found himself on the other side of a health crisis when he noticed alarming symptoms while on the job.

“My grip is starting to feel funny, my legs starting and I’m going in my head, I’m going, ‘This is not good,’” Hall said. 

Stephanie Wolf, Doctors Hospital Clinical Nurse Supervisor, came to Hall's aid. She conducted a stroke assessment test which revealed concerning signs. 

“I checked if he could feel me equally on both sides, if he could grasp my hands, where you put your arms out like this and see if they hold it up, and he pretty much failed my assessment,” Wolf said.

Recognizing the urgency, Wolf took Hall down to the Doctors Hospital emergency department where they treated him for a stroke. 

Hall is deeply grateful for the care he received and for the support from Wolf and the hospital staff.  “I can’t tell you if it wasn’t for the staff in the emergency room here at Doctors Hospital, I would not be here the way I am,” he said. 

After months of recovery, Hall made his return to work last week, calling the experience a “homecoming.” “Walking down the hall and seeing family, OhioHealth is not just a great place to work; it is truly a family,” he said.

His journey to recovery was not without challenges, but he credits his resilience to OhioHealth's “Keep Making Plans” campaign. Hall received a bracelet with the campaign slogan, usually given to cancer patients. This bracelet served as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining goals despite health setbacks.

“‘Keep Making Plans’ is so important,” Hall said. “When you give up, that’s worse. If you’re able to fight and really push through what’s going on, that makes it better. That helps with your recovery and gives you that fighting chance."

Both Hall and Wolf now advocate for raising awareness about the signs of stroke, urging people to act promptly. 

“If you know that you don’t feel right, or your family members are not acting right, or you think something’s wrong, just call 911, take them to the hospital,” Wolf said.

When it comes to stroke, time matters. The acronym BEFAST can help you remember the signs.

Visit www.ohiohealth.com/services/neuroscience/our-programs/stroke to learn more about OhioHealth’s stroke care.

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