FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2022
News Highlights
- Awards recognize proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care
- Stroke is the #5 cause of death in the United States
- The quality of care provided leads to more lives saved and reduces disability
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA— All three County of Santa Clara public hospitals have received American Heart Association quality achievement awards. These awards recognize the hospitals commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized and research-based guidelines. The quality care they provide ultimately leads to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Stroke is the #5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries 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 accelerating recovery times.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“Our medical system is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” commented Paul Lorenz, CEO Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospitals & Clinics. “I am proud of our care teams who put proven knowledge and guidelines to work daily to help patients recover better. Our goal is to make sure more people in our community experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize these hospitals for their commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
These hospitals also received the American Heart Association’s Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll to make sure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
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About Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospitals & Clinics
The County of Santa Clara owns and operates a healthcare delivery system that includes Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital. The system’s mission is to provide high quality, compassionate care, and excellent service to everyone in our community.
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center includes an acute care hospital with 574 licensed beds, providing the highest level of adult and pediatric inpatient care, as well as a range of other specialized services – in some cases the only such treatment in the region. Its Burn Center, Rehabilitation Center, and Trauma Center have been nationally recognized.
- Known for quality, compassionate care, O’Connor Hospital is a nationally recognized, 358-bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs. Whether for the birth of a baby or a life-saving surgery, O’Connor offers medical excellence, specialized services, and advanced technology.
- St. Louise Regional Hospital cares for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties by offering a wide range of high-quality inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. St. Louise has 93 beds and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Whether for maternity care, surgery or a medical emergency, the hospital’s reputation for quality, compassionate care is renowned in the region.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.