TriHealth Hospitals Receive National Recognition for their Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

TriHealth, a nationally recognized health care system, is pleased to announce four locations have been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association for providing high-quality care to stroke patients.

Good Samaritan Hospital, Bethesda North Hospital, Bethesda Butler Hospital and McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital have received the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when the 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.

All four hospitals also received additional, targeted accolades from AHA:

• Good Samaritan Hospital received AHA’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award, which requires hospitals to meet specific criteria that reduces the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy; Advanced Therapy accolades; and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, which aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care with hospitalized due to stroke.
• Bethesda North received AHA’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards.
• Bethesda Butler received AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award.
• McCullough Hyde Memorial received AHA’s Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research – and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“TriHealth is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Vice President of the TriHealth Heart and Vascular Institute and Joint Venture Management Matt Lehn said. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Cincinnati can 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 Good Samaritan, Bethesda North, Bethesda Butler and McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospitals for their commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., 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. “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.”