FORT SMITH - The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has recognized 18 hospitals statewide for stroke care performance as documented in the Arkansas Stroke Registry (ASR).
Both Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith and Sparks Medical Center – Van Buren were among those receiving performance awards.
The awards were given to hospitals for outstanding adherence to stroke care performance measures for stroke patients treated between July 2014 and June 2015. Measures include: providing all applicable stroke patient care, known as defect-free care, completing a patient stroke screen, documenting when Emergency Medical Services notifies the receiving hospital that a suspected stroke patient is enroute and performing a swallowing screen.
With a stroke, every second counts. Shelly Cordum MSN, RN, CEN, System Chief Nursing Officer, said that’s why their hospitals work closely with emergency services and other centers to make sure quality care begins immediately for any patient showing signs of a stroke.
Sparks Regional Medical Center received an award for Outstanding Stroke Patient Care (Defect-Free Care) and Outstanding Completion of Swallowing Screen (Dysphagia Screening), while Sparks Medical Center – Van Buren was recognized for Outstanding Documentation of EMS Notifying Hospital that Suspected Stroke Case En Route (EMS Pre-notification).
The performance measures are American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) endorsed quality and achievement measures of the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Patient Management Tool. These measures are benchmarked according to the standards of evidence-based stroke care guidelines to assure stroke patients receive appropriate and timely care.
Sparks has been a part of Get With The Guidelines® program for more than 10 years and is annually recognized for outstanding stroke care. Sparks Regional Medical Center is a Gold Seal accredited Primary Stroke Center offering neurovascular medical and surgical care for patients suffering strokes and/or aneurysms.