Genesis Health System received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
In a news release, Genesis said this has ultimately led to more lives saved, reduced disability and a better quality of life for stroke patients.
Genesis also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke SM Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival and thrombolytic therapy – an emergency treatment to dissolve blood clots that form in arteries feeding the brain, the main cause of ischemic strokes.
“Genesis Health System’s multidisciplinary stroke team champions collaboration to promote the best patient outcomes. Our strong relationship with MEDIC EMS means stroke patient care begins before entering our Emergency Department,” Stephanie Murphy, stroke coordinator at Genesis Health System, said in the release.
“Several stroke warning signs include balance issues, vision changes, facial drooping, arm weakness, and difficulty speaking,” she said. “To help people remember, we have focused on community education, encouraging stroke recognition through the BE FAST acronym – Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time. If you notice someone experiencing stroke symptoms, call 911. The sooner you act, the sooner life-saving treatment is possible.”
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries 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, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are vital to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Genesis Health System for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group, and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer re-admissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award 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 educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
