Rural Stroke Care Excellence Recognized at Ephraim McDowell Health

Strategic Insights -

Ephraim McDowell Health's commitment to improving rural stroke care has been recognized with the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Recognition Gold and Silver awards. The awards acknowledge the hospital's efforts to address the unique health needs of rural communities, where people have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality compared to urban counterparts.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ephraim McDowell Health's three hospitals have been awarded for their efforts to improve rural stroke care, with Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center receiving the Gold award and Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital receiving the Silver award.
  • The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Recognition awards recognize hospitals for their efforts to address the unique health needs of rural communities, where people face a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality.
  • People living in rural communities have an average of three years fewer lifespan compared to urban counterparts, and the health gap between rural and urban communities has grown over the past two decades.
  • The awards recognize hospitals' efforts towards acute stroke care excellence, demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline, and deficit assessment documentation.
  • Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center also received the American Heart Association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for reducing the time between a patient's arrival and treatment with thrombolytic therapy, and ensuring patients with Type 2 diabetes receive evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Statistics:

  • 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease among rural communities' residents
  • 30% increased risk for stroke mortality among rural communities' residents
  • 3 years fewer average lifespan in rural communities compared to urban counterparts
  • 2 decades of growing health gap between rural and urban communities
  • 97% (or greater) compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy (composite score)
  • 90% or greater compliance to timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline, and deficit assessment documentation

Sources:

  • Ephraim McDowell Health's press release, July 22 [Original source]
  • American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Recognition awards program [Original source]
  • American Heart Association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll programs [Original source]