Ascension St. John Receives National Recognition for High-Quality Stroke Program

Only program in Oklahoma to earn the American Heart Association's Advanced Therapy Distinction

A known leader in providing high-quality stroke care to patients throughout eastern Oklahoma, Ascension St. John Medical Center (ASJMC) recently received the American Heart Association's Advanced Therapy Distinction, as part of the Association's Get With The Guidelines Awards. The only hospital to receive this distinction in Oklahoma, ASJMC's emergency department, stroke, interventional radiology and neurosurgical teams were recognized for their work in improving the lives of patients facing the symptoms of acute stroke.

Stroke is the fifth-highest cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Early stroke detection and treatment - like the work done at ASJMC - are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Alongside this recognition, the hospital received three additional awards:

• American Heart Association's Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award
  ASJMC met specific criteria to reduce the time between a stroke patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy, which includes the use of medications designed to dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke.
• American Heart Association's Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award
  ASJMC met specific criteria to reduce the time between an eligible patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke. The team's leading work in this category led to ASJMC becoming the only program in Oklahoma to receive the Advanced Therapy Distinction.
• American Heart Association's Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award.
  ASJMC met specific criteria to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

ASJMC is home to the only Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in eastern Oklahoma. The Ascension St. John Heyman Stroke Center features a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

"This designation by the American Heart Association represents the diligence and dedication of our physicians, surgeons and nursing teams to provide the highest level of care for successful outcomes." said Dr. Rahul Rahangdale, physician and medical director of the ASJMC Heyman Stroke Center. "I am incredibly proud to be the only hospital recognized for this level of care in Oklahoma and to be part of this team as they continue to set new standards for stroke care."

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned 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.

Dr. Yashar Kalani, neurosurgeon and surgical director of the ASJMC Heyman Stroke Center said, "as the only Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Eastern Oklahoma and the only hospital in Oklahoma to achieve the American Heart Association's Advanced Therapy distinction for stroke, we are proud of the multidisciplinary expertise of our advanced practice providers in the emergency department and across our radiology and neurosurgical teams to improve clinical outcomes after a stroke."

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 Ascension St. John for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke," said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "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."

For more information, visit Ascension St. John Heyman Stroke Center or www.heart.org.

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