Some members of the Holy Cross Hospital Stroke Team
Some members of the Holy Cross Germantown Hospital Stroke Team
(Silver Spring, Md.) — Holy Cross Health is pleased to announce that Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital have received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association 2019 Get with the Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award, along with the association's Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus Award.
In 2018, Holy Cross Health cared for more than 630 stroke inpatients, with Holy Cross Hospital ranking third in the state of Maryland in stroke cases. The recent stroke awards recognize Holy Cross Health's commitment to providing each of these patients with high-quality stroke treatments, aligned with the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines and best practices.
"It's an honor to once again be recognized for the excellent delivery of stroke care," said Norvell V. Coots, MD, president and CEO, Holy Cross Health. "The stroke teams at Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital are exceptionally well trained and committed to providing life-saving treatment to stroke patients, quickly and safely."
The stroke programs are part of Holy Cross Health's comprehensive Neuroscience Program, which provides advanced, innovative care for patients with complex brain and spine conditions.
The highly-trained specialists include stroke rapid response teams at Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital who respond to every stroke emergency — 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The team of emergency medicine specialists, neurologists, neuroradiologists and specially trained nurses and nurse practitioners move swiftly and expertly together to evaluate, diagnose and treat stroke patients. This rapid treatment minimizes the negative effects of stroke and greatly improves outcomes.
To receive the Stroke Gold Plus Award, Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital demonstrated that they consistently meet specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients.
The hospitals additionally earned the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus Award for meeting quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). TPA is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke, which accounts for 87 percent of strokes in the United States.
"Achieving this recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our stroke teams," said Dr. Shahid Rafiq, medical director, Neurology and Stroke, Holy Cross Health. "We are dedicated to caring for our patients and helping them achieve the best possible outcome after a stroke."
Both Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital are designated as Primary Stroke Centers by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS), and Holy Cross Hospital holds Advanced Primary Stroke Center designation by the Joint Commission.
To learn more about stroke care at Holy Cross Health visit HolyCrossHealth.org/Stroke.
About Holy Cross Health
Holy Cross Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, people-centered health system that serves the two most populous counties in Maryland, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, with a commitment to being the most trusted provider of health care services in the area. Founded in 1963 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Health is a member of Trinity Health of Livonia, Michigan, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Holy Cross Hospital, in Silver Spring, is one of the largest hospitals in Maryland, and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital is the first hospital in the nation on a community college campus, enhanced by an educational partnership. The Holy Cross Health Network operates primary care practices and affordable health centers, and offers a wide range of innovative, community-based health and wellness programs. Specialty care, home care and hospice services round out Holy Cross Health's high-quality and coordinated continuum of care that aims to improve health and move life ahead for individuals and populations in the communities served. Learn more at HolyCrossHealth.org.