Moments matter for patients with stroke, and that means rapid diagnosis and quick delivery of clot-busting medication is critical to reducing post-stroke complications or disability.
Hartford Hospital’s demonstrated ability to thrive in those urgent care situations, combined with its comprehensive approach to getting patients on the road to a speedy recovery, recently earned the hospital acclaim for the second year in a row — the American Heart Association/Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Quality Achievement Award.
The hospital received the accolade by meeting specific quality measures for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with stroke, including those aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines. Most noteworthy is the hospital’s commitment to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster medication, tissue plasminogen activator, commonly known as tPA.
“This award is a real source of pride for physicians and nurses here who have dedicated themselves to not just maintain the highest standard of coordinated care,” said Dawn Beland, coordinator of Hartford Hospital’s Stroke Center, “but to look at their work with a critical eye and push for even the smallest improvements to make our patient outcomes better year after year.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. During the last fiscal year, Hartford Hospital, one of only two certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Connecticut, cared for about 1,100 patients with stroke.
Patients with stroke delayed in an emergency department are at risk of post-stroke complications or disability. Last summer, Hartford Hospital’s weeklong stroke-focused workshop included staff from 11 departments to identify ways to further improve door-to-tPA times for patients. That effort produced a bevy of ideas to streamline operations, and subsequent improvements have helped make the hospital among the fastest in the country for stroke care.
The recent award from the association also spotlights Hartford Hospital’s commitment to education and aftercare, including giving patients the information they need to manage their health after they are discharged.
In May, Hartford Hospital also received its third recertification from the Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Commission reviewers said the hospital stood out for its expert emergency, neurology, neurosurgery and interventional radiology teams, neurocritical care providers and specialty-trained nursing staff throughout the continuum, from EMS care through rehabilitation.
Click here to learn more about Hartford Hospital’s Stroke Center.