Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center has earned its 14th consecutive American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin achieved the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Silver award.
“Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center has been honored annually since 2008 for its dedication to providing excellent health care to patients experiencing a stroke, saving lives and reducing disability caused by stroke,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice Walker. “The additional recognition for Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving patient care throughout central Georgia. Utilizing the latest treatment guidelines, we are reaching more patients with the highest standards of care, giving them the chance to live longer, healthier lives.”
Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding 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.
Each year, program participants apply for award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. Program participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their health and rehabilitation once at home.
In addition, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center is a certified Primary Stroke Center and Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin has been designated as a Remote Stroke Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
For the past four years, Atrium Health Navicent has been named to the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Honor Roll. Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin also earned the same designation this year.
Since diabetes is a risk factor for stroke, this honor goes hand in hand with the stroke achievement award. In central Georgia, 17.2 percent of adults have reported being diagnosed with diabetes, a figure that’s well above the state and national percentages. Atrium Health Navicent provides support for individuals diagnosed with diabetes through the Healthy Communities Diabetes Disease Management Program and Diabetes Healthways Program. Participants in both programs are offered education about diabetes management and ongoing support.