University Hospital nationally recognized for commitment to high-quality stroke care
Each year, healthcare facilities qualify for awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association that demonstrate how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients.
By Michelle Ryan
mryan@health.southalabama.edu
USA Health University Hospital has again earned three of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awards designed to recognize excellence in stroke care that translates to improved outcomes for patients at the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center.
For Shelia Ross, DNP, director of the stroke program at University Hospital, the recognition honors the continued success of the doctors, nurses, and staff who work together to deliver life-saving care when every second counts.
“Across the U.S., most areas don’t have any interventionalists at all or neurosurgeons, and here we have a team of both,” she said. “Our nurses and staff are trained on what to do, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke quickly and know what they’re supposed to do to treat the patient.”
The first recognition, the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines – Stroke quality achievement award recognizes University Hospital for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize University Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With the Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
University Hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center also received the AHA’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy award and the Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. To qualify for the Elite Plus recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria reducing the time between a patient’s arrival and treatment with a clot-busting drug.
The third award, the Target Type 2 Honor Roll recognition, was awarded to University Hospital because staff members ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who could be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with a stroke.
Each year, healthcare facilities qualify for these awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
