The Shore Health System Primary Stroke Center recently earned the Gold Plus Award from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA). The award recognizes hospitals that demonstrate compliance with the seven Get With The Guidelines® stroke achievement measures. This award acknowledges that Shore Health System has met the guidelines for providing the highest standards of stroke care for 24 consecutive months. These measures include aggressive use of specific medications and smoking cessation education, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
The Center previously won the Silver Award, which recognizes compliance with these guidelines for at least 12 months. The guidelines also require that stroke centers provide education to increase awareness about how to prevent stroke and how to respond when stroke symptoms occur.
According to neurologist Terry Detrich, MD, medical director of the Primary Stroke Center, this achievement represents a continued commitment by the Stroke Center team to excellence.
“Our team of professionals remains committed to providing the best possible care to our patients. We have built up a team of people who work hard to assure that we save the lives of the people that come through our doors,” said Detrich. “That person coming through the door could be our aunt, cousin or neighbor – that makes this more motivating to be the best we can be.”
The team also includes the emergency medical responders who respond to 911 calls, physicians in the emergency department, neurologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, case managers, and staff in the lab, pharmacy and radiology.
Ongoing education of patients is also key, says neuroscience specialist Christina Ball, RN, CNRN who coordinates Shore Health System stroke education and outreach initiatives for patients and their families, hospital staff nurses and the community.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and consistently meeting these guidelines really showcases our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible stroke care and education to our patients,” said Ball. “By coordinating care, we are saving lives by responding quickly and efficiently to people when they are experiencing stroke symptoms.”
The Shore Health System Primary Stroke Center is located at the Memorial Hospital at Easton. Memorial Hospital achieved Primary Stroke Center designation from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems in 2007.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. For more information about the Shore Health System Primary Stroke Center, call Christina Ball, 410-822-100 or 410-228-5511, ext. 5068. Information about stroke prevention and treatment is available at www.shorehealth.org/services/stroke.
In photo above: Shore Health System Primary Stroke Center team members and staff celebrate recognition for achieving Gold Plus status as part of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program.
Christina Ball, RN, CNRN, neuroscience specialist at Shore Health System’s Primary Stroke Center and Terry Detrich, MD, medical director of the Primary Stroke Center celebrate the Center’s Gold Plus achievement award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program.