The AHA awarded Springfield Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital with the Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines - Stroke quality achievement award, which recognizes hospitals that ensure stroke patients get high-quality, research-based treatment that aligns with AHA guidelines.
“When treating stroke, every second counts,” said Jennifer Rebbe, a registered nurse and director of neurosciences at Springfield Memorial Hospital. “These awards reinforce the work we have done to ensure patients experiencing stroke get the highest-quality care as quickly as possible.”
The Joint Commission designates Springfield Memorial Hospital as one of only 10 comprehensive stroke centers in Illinois, recognizing its ability to provide around-the-clock care for complex cases of stroke. Decatur Memorial Hospital is designated as a primary stroke center. Both designations recognize the work of multidisciplinary teams that address all aspects of stroke treatment and recovery.
“Treating stroke is a team effort,” said Jennifer Swartz, a registered nurse and clinical coordinator overseeing stroke care at Decatur Memorial Hospital. “Our stroke team includes professionals with a wide range of specialties, including neurointerventional radiologists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, radiologists and physical, occupational and speech therapists, among many others.”
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying 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 reducing recovery time,” said Chuck Callahan, president of the Memorial Health Hospital Group and CEO of Springfield Memorial Hospital. “I’m proud of the work we do at SMH, DMH and across Memorial Health to treat stroke patients quickly and help them preserve their quality of life.”