Franciscan Health Indianapolis Stroke Program Earns 2021 National Accolades

INDIANAPOLS, Indiana - Franciscan Health Indianapolis has received the 2021 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll Elite. 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.

The hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, schedule a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as be instructed on other care transition interventions.

"Our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative." said Sharon Annee, administrative director of orthopedics and neurosciences for Franciscan Health Central Indiana. "This recognition attests to the commitment and professionalism of our entire clinical and administrative staff."

Franciscan Health has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

"We are pleased to recognize Franciscan Health Indianapolis for its commitment to stroke care," said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. "Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates."

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. 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.