Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) rapid response in treating stroke patients has received the American Stroke Association’s Honor Roll-Elite Plus recognition for the third consecutive year.
“This award recognizes a major team effort, which is necessary to achieve consistently excellent results in evaluating patients promptly for stroke, obtaining the necessary imaging and laboratory studies and making rapid decisions about acute stroke treatment,” said Howard Kirshner, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Stroke Center. “It reflects the performance of the Emergency Department triage, nursing staff, neurologists, radiologists and interventional specialists who make key decisions in acute stroke care.”
The award is based on time metrics and quality measures, particularly the delivery of the clot-buster tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), when appropriate, within 45 minutes of a patient entering the emergency department. Reaching that benchmark requires teamwork across hospital units.
The Honor Roll-Elite Plus designation, which was established in 2015, is given in recognition for performance beyond the requirements for the American Stroke Association’s Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
“This award reflects the tireless work and compassion of the VUMC staff and their particular dedication to the care of our stroke patients,” said Michael Froehler, M.D., Ph.D. a neuro interventionalist and director of the Cerebrovascular Service. “In particular, Vanderbilt Stroke Center coordinator Kiersten Espaillat, DNP, deserves special recognition for her excellent work to earn this highest level of recognition from the American Stroke Association.”
To receive the Gold Plus designation, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher on achievement guidelines set by the organization for two or more years and also receive 75 percent or higher compliance on quality measures.