TCRH nationally recognized for commitment to providing high-quality stroke care

GALAX — Twin County Regional Healthcare (TCRH) has received the American Heart Association’s achievement awards: 2024 Get With the Guidelines Silver Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

TCRH received four American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke and heart disease ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. Get With The Guidelines put 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. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, Twin County Regional Healthcare qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

Stroke is the No. 5 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.

“Twin County Regional Healthcare is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Sudandra Ratnasamy, CEO of Twin County Regional Healthcare. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work daily, which studies show can help patients recover better. Our dedicated team’s end goal is to ensure more people in the communities we serve 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.

Carla Gunter, MSN, RN, SCRN, NVRN-BC, ASC-BC serves as the stroke coordinator at Twin County Regional Healthcare. Carla also serves as the in-service educator and nurse residency coordinator for TCRH.