Hospital earns Heart Association award for stroke care

SMITHFIELD — UNC Health Johnston has received an American Heart Association award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. 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.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program puts the expertise of the AHA and the American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care aligns 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.

“UNC Health Johnston is committed to improving patient care by following the latest treatment guidelines,” said Chief Operating Officer Ruth Marler. “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 our communities can live longer and with better health.”

Every year, program participants qualify for the Get With The Guidelines quality achievement 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 UNC Health Johnston for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chairman of the American Heart Association’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.”

UNC Health Johnston also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria to reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

In addition, the hospital received the association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for striving to ensure patients with diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized because of stroke.

Since 2021, UNC Health Johnston has been a primary stroke center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

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