Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
Saint Peter’s University Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions
“Saint Peter’s University Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Linda Carroll, MSN, RN-BC, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”
In 2009, Saint Peter’s University Hospital was designated as a primary stroke center by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services. A primary stroke center is the first line of defense in diagnosing and treating stroke and preventing or minimizing permanent brain damage to the patient. To receive this designation, Saint Peter’s had to meet certain criteria including: a specialized stroke team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the hospital has, as required, computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capabilities and a laboratory equipped and available to perform testing 24/7.
Saint Peter’s offers a stroke rehabilitation program that helps patients recover from the effects of stroke by relearning skills and developing new ways to do things so that they may regain as much independence and quality of life as possible. Patients have access to a trained team of specialists that includes rehab nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, registered dietitians, social workers, chaplains, psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists and case managers.
