Seven Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) hospitals recently were recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Get With The Guidelines program. Hospitals that qualify for this award must meet strict standards in providing high-quality stroke care.
Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, Advanced Therapy, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
LVH–Carbon: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
LVH–Hazleton: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
LVH–Hecktown Oaks: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
LVH–Muhlenberg: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
LVH–Pocono: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Rural Silver
LVH–Schuylkill: Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Rural Silver
Fast, lifesaving stroke care
Hospitals that qualify for this award must demonstrate a commitment to making continuous improvements and using advanced, research-based guidelines to provide high-quality stroke care. This includes being prepared to treat stroke cases quickly, effectively and at any time of day. Hospitals also must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-busting drug alteplase when necessary.
Stroke is the fifth-leading 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. Studies show when clinicians consistently follow treatment guidelines patients have better recoveries.