New Brunswick-based Saint Peter’s University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, recently received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment.
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.
“Saint Peter’s University Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Dr. Roger Behar, neurologist and medical director of the Stroke Program at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, said. “Get with the Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work in the critical moments immediately after stroke symptoms appear, which studies show can help patients recover better while minimizing the potential for long-term disabilities that can result due to delay in treatment. The end goal is for us is to help people in the communities we serve experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get with the Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Saint Peter’s University Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” Dr. Steven Messe, 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, said. “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.”
The acronym “BE FAST” can help people remember what the initial signs of stroke may look like:
- B — Balance: Is the person having trouble with balance or coordination?
- E — Eyes: Is the person experiencing blurred or double vision or a loss of vision?
- F — Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
- A — Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Does one arm drift downward if the person raises their arms?
- S — Speech difficulty: Is the person’s speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The grass is green.”
- T — Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms subside, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital is designated a primary stroke center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services and is certified as an advanced primary stroke center by the Joint Commission, demonstrating that the hospital has consistently met quality metrics and provided some of the best evidence-based care for its stroke patients.
