Stroke care access in SWLA VIDEO: Increasing access to stroke care By Ashley Joseph | May 4, 2021 at 6:23 PM CDT - Updated May 4 at 7:51 PM LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in Louisiana. In Southwest Louisiana, there are two certified Primary Stroke Centers, and quick access to health care for those patients is vital to prevent future issues or even fatal results. ”We’ll have patients come in from three-hour drives away sometimes,” said Christus Ochsner St. Patrick Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. Matthew Hanudel. For many people, a stroke is a life-changing experience that typically involves a long and difficult recovery.