The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have recognised Harris Health System’s Ben Taub Hospital for its success in providing care for acute ischaemic strokes. The Houston-area hospital was awarded the Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus-Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Award for achieving a minimum of 85 percent adherence to all program indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods, and compliance over 75 percent for at least five of the program’s eight quality measures.
“This once again exhibits our staff’s commitment to excellence in patient care. To achieve this award, Ben Taub Hospital demonstrated 24 consecutive months of superior performance in the care of stroke patients. There is no higher recognition,” said Dr. Robert Trenschel, executive vice president and administrator at Ben Taub Hospital. “Most importantly this signifies that patients coming to Ben Taub Hospital will receive the highest quality care possible in the treatment of stroke and continues to fortify our position as a community asset.”
In addition to reaching quality measure adherence, receipt of the Elite Plus status indicates that the hospital had door-to-needle time of 60 minutes or less in 75 percent of stroke cases, and door-to-needle time of 45 minutes or less in 50 percent or more of stroke cases.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and this award demonstrates Ben Taub’s commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care. We will continue to focus on providing care to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols,” said Dr. Joseph Kass, chief of Neurology and the medical director of Stroke Service at Ben Taub Hospital. Dr. Kass is also an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine.
Comprehensive Stroke Centre Certification
Ben Taub Hospital has been nationally recognised before, with many certifications and commendations for its comprehensive stroke care. It was awarded DNV Healthcare, Inc.’s three-year Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification which encompasses diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education, also establishing metrics for outcome evaluations. The Southeast Texas Regional Advisor Council (SETRAC) also designated the hospital as a comprehensive stroke centre.
Certifications are becoming an important measure of a stroke centre’s expertise. They determine where patients will be transported for care by trauma and emergency service providers, facilitating the most efficient care for patients. The latest recognition distinguishes Ben Taub Hospital as one in a limited group of southeast Texas facilities that offer specialised care for complex stroke patients.
Source: Harris Health System
Image Credit: Ben Taub Hospital
