Mega Doctor News
Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States and one of the leading causes of serious long-term disability nationwide, according to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, affecting nearly 800,000 Americans each year.
While these statistics are alarming, approximately 80% of strokes can be prevented, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and rapid medical intervention can significantly improve a patient’s chances of recovery.
By recognizing the warning signs and seeking immediate medical attention, individuals can reduce their risk of long-term disability and improve their chances of recovery.
In the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Health System (STHS) McAllen, one of only 48 facilities currently designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Facility by Texas Department of State Health Services, continues to earn national recognition as a leader in high-quality stroke care.
Certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV, the highest designation for stroke care, STHS McAllen has been awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Award for the seventh consecutive year.
The special designation recognizes the hospital’s dedication to delivering timely, evidence-based stroke care that meets rigorous national standards and ensures patients receive the most appropriate treatment based on the latest research and nationally recognized guidelines.
This achievement reflects STHS McAllen’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality of care for stroke patients, helping improve outcomes, save lives and reduce long-term disability. The award also recognizes the hospital’s sustained performance in adhering to best practices for at least 24 consecutive months.
“As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, STHS McAllen is committed to improving outcomes for stroke patients across the Rio Grande Valley by delivering the highest standards of evidence-based care,” said Emma Montes-Ewing, Chief Executive Officer, STHS McAllen. “From the emergency department and neuro-interventional suite to our neuro intensive care unit and rehabilitation services, the Get With The Guidelines program empowers our multidisciplinary teams to apply proven strategies and best practices at every stage of care. By providing coordinated, high-quality treatment across the continuum, we can help patients achieve better outcomes, recover more quickly and enjoy an improved quality of life.”
Occasionally referred to as a brain attack, a stroke is a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, damaging or killing brain tissue. Early stroke detection and timely treatment are vital to improving the chances of survival, minimizing the risk of disability and accelerating a patient’s recovery time.
To earn recognition through the Get With The Guidelines program, participating facilities like STHS McAllen must demonstrate a sustained commitment to delivering high-quality stroke care and achieving specific performance measures. In addition to following nationally recognized treatment protocols, participating hospitals provide patients and their families with education and resources to support recovery, reduce the risk of future strokes and promote better long-term health outcomes.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize STHS McAllen for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “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.”
| Additionally, STHS McAllen received: |
| • The American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award for the third consecutive year. This recognition is awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous criteria for reducing the time between an eligible stroke patient’s arrival and treatment with a clot-busting alteplase injection. |
| • The Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award for the second straight year. The distinction recognizes hospitals that consistently reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival and advanced treatment to remove a clot causing a stroke. The honor complements the facility’s designation as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, reflecting its expertise in performing endovascular thrombectomies. |
| • The Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for the seventh consecutive year. The recognition highlights STHS McAllen’s commitment to providing the latest evidence-based care for stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes, who may face a higher risk of complications. |
Together, these achievements underscore STHS McAllen’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based stroke care that meets and exceeds national standards established by the American Heart Association.
STHS McAllen is part of the STHS Neurosciences & Stroke Institute, the largest integrated stroke care network in South Texas. In addition to the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, the institute includes Primary Stroke Centers at STHS Edinburg and STHS Heart, as well as six freestanding emergency departments certified as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals throughout the region.
For more information about the institute and the services provided across its facilities, visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
Information source: STHS
