Piedmont Newton Hospital has earned recognition for its dedication to stroke care. The hospital received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.Piedmont Newton Hospital has earned recognition for its dedication to stroke care. The hospital received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This achievement demonstrates Piedmont Newton’s commitment to providing up-to-date and effective stroke treatment, based on the latest research and guidelines. By following these guidelines, the hospital aims to save lives, reduce recovery times, and minimize readmissions for stroke patients. The Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll recognizes hospitals for meeting specific criteria that shorten the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy. This timely intervention is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing long-term disabilities from stroke. Additionally, the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll focuses on ensuring that patients with type 2 diabetes receive the most appropriate care when hospitalized for stroke. Diabetes increases the risk of complications, so specialized care is essential to optimize outcomes for these patients. Erica Walker, the stroke and cardiovascular program manager for Piedmont Newton, emphasized the hospital’s dedication to improving patient care through adherence to treatment guidelines and streamlined processes. This approach aligns with Get With The Guidelines and has been shown to lead to better patient recovery. Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the US. Early detection and treatment are vital, and Piedmont Newton’s efforts are aimed at enhancing stroke care for the Covington community and surrounding areas. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program provides hospitals with access to expert guidance and resources, supporting them in providing the best possible care for stroke patients. By participating in this program, Piedmont Newton is demonstrating its commitment to evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Piedmont Newton Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The award recognizes the hospital for its commitment to following up-to-date, research-based stroke treatment guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer hospital readmissions.
To qualify for the Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy. Meanwhile, the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll focuses on ensuring that patients with type 2 diabetes, who may be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when they are hospitalized for stroke.
“Piedmont Newton is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and appropriate stroke care,” said Erica Walker, stroke and cardiovascular program manager for Piedmont Newton. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines into practice every day, which research shows can help patients recover better. The ultimate goal is to help more people in Covington and the surrounding areas live longer, healthier lives.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, a part of the brain can’t get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing brain cells to die. Early detection and treatment of stroke are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and speeding recovery times.
“We are thrilled to recognize Piedmont Newton for its dedication to stroke care,” said Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of neurology fellowships 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 systems, families, and communities.”
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to hospitals across the country, helping to ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is a hospital-based program dedicated to improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of stroke and even prevent death.
Hospitals in Piedmont received a total of 15 Get With The Guidelines Awards.
