The acute care hospitals of Community Healthcare System have received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus achievement awards. They have demonstrated commitment to following research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart achieved Gold Plus status and Target: Stroke℠ honor roll distinctions for Stroke Elite and Type 2 Diabetes. Community Hospital also earned Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy accolades for the facilitation of surgical intervention for stroke patients.
Get With The Guidelines puts to work the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines.
“Community Healthcare System is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for stroke patients,” said Neuroendovascular Neurologist Aamir Badruddin, medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at Community Hospital. “The Get With The Guidelines program makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in Northwest Indiana experience longer, healthier lives.”
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, which is the No. 5 cause of death. Studies have shown patients recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.
“As a system, we are united in the battle against stroke. By using a standardized evidence-based protocol no matter if the patient is brought to our Comprehensive Stroke Center or to one of our Primary Stroke Centers, we are able to deliver lifesaving care in an expedited fashion,” said Jill Conner, administrative director of Neuroscience and Structural Heart Services. “Working with our EMS providers and our healthcare colleagues across Northwest Indiana, we are able to significantly improve the outcomes of patients who have had an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.”
For more information about stroke care at Community Healthcare System hospitals, visit COMHS.org/stroke.