Baptist Health Hardin is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care
Award is for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.
Elizabethtown, KY (JUNE 29, 2022) — Baptist Health Hardin has received the American Heart American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to providing high quality of care to stroke patients. Baptist Health Hardin’s stroke team is led by Scott Dishaw, MD. Baptist Health Hardin’s stroke team functions as a robust disciplinary team that meets monthly to discuss advances in Stroke care and evaluate Stroke quality measures and outcomes.
Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. 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 brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
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 research- and evidence-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.
“Baptist Health Hardin is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Rosa Vittitoe, Baptist Health Hardin stroke coordinator. “American Heart and American Stroke provides standardized guidelines to ensure patients with stroke receive the most appropriate and timely treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines grounded in the latest scientific evidence. Participation in Get With The Guidelines is the first level of recognition, but The Gold Plus award is an advanced level of recognition, acknowledging consistent compliance with quality measures for 24 consecutive months. The end goal is to ensure more people in central Kentucky 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 Baptist Health Hardin for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, chairperson of the 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.”
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With the Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest evidenced -based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.