VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines -- Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. 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 cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery time.

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 evidence and research-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.

"We are committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines," said Tonya Wright, R.N., stroke coordinator at VCU Health CMH. "Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Southside Virginia and northern North Carolina can 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 VCU Health CMH for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke," said Steven Messe, M.D., chair of the ASA’s 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."

VCU Health CMH also received two other important designations: the Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. To qualify for these recognitions, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with a clot-buster, and ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

If you or someone near you experiences a stroke, call 911 immediately. To learn more about stroke symptoms, visit our website.