Memorial Health University Medical Center has earned 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. MHUMC has earned this recognition for seven years in a row.

To earn the recognition, MHUMC had 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two consecutive years and 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

MHUMC also achieved Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus designation. That means Memorial Health met quality measures developed to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with tissue plasminogen activator. tPA is the only drug approved to treat ischemic stroke, significantly reduce the effects of stroke, and lessen the chance of permanent disability.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost. At Memorial Health, our stroke team is available around the clock to provide brain scans, evaluations, and tPA as quickly as possible,” said Joseph Hogan, M.D., emergency medicine physician.

“After a stroke, we offer a comprehensive recovery process that stresses education and lifestyle improvements. Our goal is to help our patients return to a productive and fulfilling life,” said Joel Greenberg, M.D., neurologist and medical director of Memorial Stroke.