Butler Memorial Hospital earns national recognition for efforts to improve stroke treatment

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines-Stroke GoldPlus award for commitment to prioritizing quality care for stroke patients

Butler Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines® -Stroke Quality Achievement Award for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines-Stroke was developed to assist healthcare professionals to provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients.

“Butler Memorial Hospital is honored to be recognized again by the American Heart Association for our stroke quality efforts, “said Melisse Maser, MSN, RN, CRNP, FNP-BC, BHS Neurology Service Clinical Coordinator. “Since 2006, when we received our first American Heart Association Get-with-the-Guidelines Stroke award, we have now served more than 5000 stroke patients. I am proud of all the doctors and staff who work diligently every day to provide excellent care for our patients.”

Each year program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation once at home.

“We are pleased to recognize Butler Memorial Hospital for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

Additionally, Butler Memorial Hospital received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”