NAPLES, Fla. – July 19, 2022 The NCH Healthcare System is proud to have received the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke quality achievement award 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.
NCH was also awarded the American Heart Association’s Type 2 Honor Roll award. Facilities with this designation ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
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 also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“With our most recent certification as a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center, and now this acknowledgment from the American Heart Association, NCH continues to be recognized for meeting rigorous standards in the treatment of stroke,” said Mazen AbuAwad, NCH Medical Director of Stroke Care. “Time is brain, and with a stroke, every minute counts.”
Stroke is the #5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the nation. 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, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines.
Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“NCH is committed to providing exceptional stroke care for our patients, and we thank the American Heart Association for recognizing NCH as a provider of excellence in stroke care,” said Paul Hiltz, President & CEO, NCH Healthcare System. “This recognition would not be possible without the work and dedication of all of our care team members who come together to save a life when minutes matter most.”
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize NCH 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 health care systems, families and communities.”
