Several Banner Health facilities in Arizona have received an esteemed stroke award in recognition of their ability to better diagnose and treat stroke patients in order to reduce disability and death and speed post-stroke recovery.

According to a Banner Health news release, Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center, Banner Desert Medical Center, Banner Baywood Medical Center, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center received the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to the highest level, as outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to treat stroke patients.

A news release from Banner Health notes that the Get With The Guidelines stroke program provides hospital teams with the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines to help achieve better outcomes and a higher quality of life for stroke patients. The Banner facilities earned the award by meeting certain quality achievement measures, which include aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies.

Jacqueline Carter, MD, says, “Banner is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke helps us achieve that goal. With this award, our hospitals demonstrate our commitment to ensure the most up-to-date, research-based clinical guidelines are utilized by our stroke teams.”

The six Banner Health facilities also received the association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll for meeting stroke quality measures that reduce the time between hospital arrival and treatment with the clot buster tPA.

Evelyn Smith, stroke program coordinator for Banner Desert Medical Center, declares, “The care our patients receive is our number one priority. We provide the most up to date care using research based guidelines with the goal of a speedy recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.”

Carter states, “Our approach to stroke care supports our mission to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care.”

Source: Banner Health