Clinton Hospital honored for stroke work.

CLINTON - Clinton Hospital received the American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Clinton Hospital's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

"Stroke victims who are diagnosed and treated quickly have a higher survival rate and often experience fewer lasting disabilities," said Ajeet Singh, medical director of the Emergency Department at Clinton Hospital. "The GWTG-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award stresses the importance of immediate treatment, and is an indicator of the high level of care provided to stroke patients at the hospital."

Clinton Hospital developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the Emergency Department. This includes being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations via a state-of-the-art telemedicine system and using clot-busting medications when appropriate around-the-clock.

To receive the GWTG-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award, Clinton Hospital consistently complied for at least one year with the requirements in the GWTG-Stroke program. These include aggressive use tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), antithrombolitics, anticoagulation and cholesterol-reducing medications as well as therapies to prevent deep vein thrombosis. Additional requirements include encouraging patients to quit smoking and providing patient education during hospitalization. This 12-month evaluation period, which took place between January 2007 and January 2008, is the second in an ongoing self-evaluation by the hospital to continually reach the 85 percent compliance level needed to sustain the award.

"The American Stroke Association commends Clinton Hospital for its success in implementing standards of care and protocols," said Lee H. Schwamm, national steering committee member for Get with the Guidelines and director of acute stroke services at Massachusetts General Hospital. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients."

GWTG-Stroke uses the "teachable moment," the time soon after a patient had a stroke, when he/she is most likely to listen to and follow their health care professionals' guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through GWTG-Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the GWTG Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

"Clinton Hospital is designated a primary stroke service hospital by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health," said Charlene Elie, vice president, Patient Care Services at Clinton Hospital. "As the baby boomer generation continues to age, the number of stroke patients is expected to rise. With that in mind, we are making it a priority to continue to improve the quality of stroke care here at Clinton Hospital by implementing GWTG-Stroke."

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Vicky Tiglias, American Heart Association's director of quality improvement initiatives, (second from right) presents the American Stroke Association's Get with the Guidelines Stroke Silver Performance Award to Clinton Hospital staff members (from left) Don Easterbrooks, manager, Radiology Department; Joan Vitone, manager, Critical Care; Charlene Elie, vice president, Patient Care Services; Cynthia Rost, manager, Quality Improvement; and Karen Plainte, vice president, Quality and Resource Utilization Management.