San Jacinto Methodist Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines^®–Stroke Quality Achievement Award for the third consecutive year. This year the hospital was awarded the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. In 2010 the hospital received the Silver Achievement Award and in 2009 the Bronze Achievement Award. The award recognizes San Jacinto's commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

Quality of Care Measurements
To receive the award, San Jacinto achieved 85 percent or higher adherence to all of the Get With The Guidelines– Stroke Quality Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of the 10 Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

San Jacinto presented with Gold Plus Award.

"This is the third consecutive year we received this award. The fact that we For the Third Consecutive Year Hospital Receives Stroke Quality Achievement Award continue to receive this award while achieving the next level of this award is a testament to the quality of care that we provide to our stroke patients," says Donna Gares, CEO and President, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital. "With a stroke, time lost is brain lost. To achieve the best outcomes for our stroke patients, San Jacinto has implemented a broad stroke program that consists of several elements meant to foster better outcomes." Those include:

• Rapid diagnosis and treatment
• Brain imaging technology
• Immediate access to emergency physicians and neurologists
• Clot-busting medications
• An interdisciplinary approach to care and treatment through many disciplines and services

Recognizing Our Commitment
"San Jacinto is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients," says Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients."