Lincoln Memorial Hospital (LMH) has been redesignated as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital for the fifth consecutive time.
Acute Stroke Ready hospitals are equipped to provide immediate care for stroke, providing initial emergency care and stabilization for patients before being able to transfer them to a comprehensive or primary stroke center for further treatment.
“Time is of the essence in stroke care, and an Acute Stroke Ready hospital like LMH is prepared to act quickly to preserve patients’ brain function and potentially save their lives,” said Jenny Rogers, an Emergency Department charge nurse at LMH who oversees stroke care.
To qualify for Acute Stroke Ready designation, hospitals must measure stroke patient outcomes, including the time that elapses between arrival at the facility and treatment, and meet specific benchmarks. Medication can be administered to break up or dissolve blood clots, brain imaging testing performed and specialized blood work reviewed.
“This accomplishment is a true testament to the outstanding teamwork across multiple departments and the processes established to effectively care for stroke patients,” said Dr. Kenny Guillotte, medical director of the LMH emergency department. “This is truly a team effort. We are very proud of the work we do to ensure our patients receive the fastest, highest-quality care possible if they experience a stroke.”
Hospitals within Memorial Health System have all received different designations for stroke. The Joint Commission, the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, has designated Springfield Memorial Hospital a Comprehensive Stroke Center and Decatur Memorial Hospital a Primary Stroke Center. The Illinois Department of Public Health has also designated Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals.