(SACRAMENTO) — UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for following guidelines known to improve outcomes and quality-of-life for stroke patients.
The UC Davis Comprehensive Stroke Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association.
The medical center received the 2020 Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for consistently adhering to association-backed quality measures. UC Davis also made the Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll for timely use of a clot-busting drug known as alteplase — a recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, or r-tPA, that can reduce the effects of some strokes.
“We are pleased to recognize UC Davis Medical Center for its commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, national chair of the Get With The Guidelines Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”
A stroke occurs when one of the blood vessels that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke), causing parts of the brain to die. Another type of cerebrovascular event — known as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA — is caused by a temporary blood clot and often called a “warning stroke.” Each year, nearly 800,000 Americans experience stroke, a leading cause of death and serious, long-term disability in adults.
“This accomplishment confirms our daily dedication and focus on rapid response and evidence-based care that saves lives and improves recovery for stroke patients,” said Kwan L. Ng, director of vascular neurology and the Comprehensive Stroke Center at UC Davis Health.
In addition to providing multi-disciplinary care, Kwan and his team are committed to raising awareness of stroke symptoms. Too many people, he said, think stroke only affects the elderly or those with known risk factors.
“It is very important to know your family health history and manage your personal risks, however stroke can affect anyone at any age,” Ng said. “We are proud of our leadership in making sure everyone in our region recognizes stroke symptoms and knows they require emergency medical treatment.”
UC Davis Medical Center has a comprehensive system for the diagnosis, treatment and outpatient management of cerebrovascular disease. More information is on the medical center website.
Get With The Guidelines ? Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines. More information is on the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association website.
