Kingston Hospital Receives American Stroke Association's Stroke Gold Plus Performance Award

Award demonstrates HealthAlliance's commitment to quality care for stroke patients

KINGSTON, N.Y., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kingston Hospital, a member of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, has received the 2009 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes HealthAlliance's commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

To receive the award, Kingston Hospital achieved significant adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Performance Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals as well as  compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.  

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability, and improving the lives of stroke patients.

"With a stroke, time lost is brain function lost, and the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award demonstrates HealthAlliance's commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care," said David Lundquist, CEO HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley. "We will continue with our focus on providing care using evidence-based protocols that have been scientifically shown to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients."

"Kingston Hospital is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients."

William R. Gooch, MD, medical director of the Stroke Program, Yvette Drake, director of the Stroke Program and Sandra Sweeney, Stroke Coordinator  work together to provide the best evidenced based practice. The program has specific protocols that ensure the patient receives the best possible care.

Get With The Guidelines–Stroke uses the "teachable moment," the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals' guidance.  Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.

Through Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients' individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool gives healthcare providers access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.

About HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley®

HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley is the alignment of Benedictine Hospital (150-bed acute care facility), Kingston Hospital (150-bed acute care facility), Margaretville Hospital (15-bed critical access facility), Mountainside Residential Care Center (82-bed skilled nursing facility) and Woodland Pond at new Paltz (continuing care retirement community). As the parent organization, HealthAlliance provides a unified governance structure, while still allowing each hospital to continue as a separate and distinct corporation. The goal of HealthAlliance is to strengthen the quality of care and bring forward enhanced technology to serve the present and future healthcare needs in the Hudson Valley. HealthAlliance and its affiliate facilities are committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and ensuring patient safety, privacy and dignity to all. For further information about HealthAlliance visit our web site at www.HAHV.org.

CONTACT: Sylvia Murphy of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, +1-845-334-3151 or [email protected]

SOURCE HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley