The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.
Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold quality achievement award for its commitment to providing stroke patients with the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
“At the Eastern Kentucky Neuroscience Center at Pikeville Medical Center, we are committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Dr. Naveed Ahmed, MD, FAAN. “The ‘Get With The Guidelines’ program enables our team to integrate proven knowledge into daily care, which research shows leads to better recovery for patients. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that more people in our region experience longer, healthier lives.”
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“At Pikeville Medical Center, we are constantly striving to enhance the quality of care we provide, and following the most current treatment guidelines is a key part of that mission,” said Melissa Thacker, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer. “This program empowers our healthcare teams, including our dedicated stroke team, to deliver care that is based on the latest research and founded on best practices, which has been shown to improve patient outcomes. By utilizing evidence-based protocols that are in place, we can help more individuals in our region recover faster from stroke and other conditions, ultimately enabling them to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award 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.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Pikeville Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Pikeville Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
PMC also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
