Memorial Medical Center receives National Quality Achievement Award for stroke care

[August 21, 2019]  Memorial Medical Center earned a national award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The American Heart Association / American Stroke Association bestowed its Get With The Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Gold Plus Quality Achievement Awards upon the nonprofit hospital, which treats an estimated 1,200 stroke cases annually.

“We are extremely proud of the dedication and expertise of Memorial’s stroke team,” Tiffany Whitaker, director of neurosciences at Memorial Health System, said. “Achieving this elite designation reflects their commitment to provide the highest level of stroke care to our patients and their families.”

The recognition from the American Stroke Association follows Memorial Medical Center’s recertification last year as a comprehensive stroke center, the highest designation for stroke care awarded by the Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies thousands of health care organizations and program in the U.S.

Only 10 hospitals in Illinois have been designated as a comprehensive stroke center by the Joint Commission, and Memorial Medical Center is the only one in Sangamon County, Whitaker said. Comprehensive stroke centers are recognized for their ability to provide expert around-the-clock care for the most complex stroke patients.

Memorial earned the Get With The Guidelines honor by meeting specific quality achievement measures to diagnose and treat stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluating the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health and get a follow-up visit scheduled, Whitaker said.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. Someone suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds on average, and nearly 795,000 people suffer from a new or recurring stroke each year.

“When treating stroke, every second counts,” Whitaker said. “Memorial is committed to providing the best level of care for stroke, from the emergency department to rehabilitation, that’s second to none.”

[Michael Leathers]