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-Day
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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.
For Emily Dahlmann, DNP, director of the stroke program at University Hospital, the recognition honors the continued success of the physicians, nurses, and staff who work together to deliver life-saving care when every second counts.
“This award means that University Hospital provides the highest-quality, comprehensive stroke care to patients and demonstrates to the community that University Hospital is the leader in stroke care for the Gulf Coast region,” she said. “This recognition confirms that our staff are passionate about providing timely, safe, high-quality, patient-centered care, understanding that time is brain.”
The first recognition, the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus 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.
“These awards show USA Health University Hospital’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, University Hospital can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and it 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 burst. 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 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.
“University Hospital has consistently received Gold Plus since 2011, and Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll since its inception in 2016,” Dahlmann said. “Advanced Therapy recognition was introduced in 2022, and University Hospital has received this award twice. This award reflects that our door to treatment time of large vessel occlusion strokes is swift.”
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.
