The American Heart Association has recognized Springfield Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital for high-quality stroke care.
The AHA awarded Springfield Memorial Hospital the Gold Plus, Honor Roll Elite and Stroke Advanced Therapy awards, while Decatur Memorial Hospital was again recognized with the Gold Plus award and named to the Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Honor Roll. These awards recognize hospitals that ensure stroke patients get high-quality, research-based treatment that aligns with AHA guidelines.
To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic “clot-busting” therapy.
“When treating stroke, every second counts,” said Jennifer Rebbe, a registered nurse and director of neurosciences at Springfield Memorial Hospital. “To earn the highest recognition for stroke care with the elite designation reinforces the work we have done to ensure stroke patients receive 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 Sajjad Mueed, MD, director of the SMH Stroke Center. “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.”