ALTOONA, Pa. — Four hospitals in UPMC’s West Central Pa. and Maryland region, including UPMC Altoona, UPMC Bedford, UPMC Somerset and UPMC Western Maryland, have been nationally recognized for their commitment to high-quality stroke care.
The awards, presented by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, reflect the hospitals’ commitment to modeling up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke — ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
This year, hospitals in the region achieved the following Get With the Guidelines Stroke Awards:
• UPMC Western Maryland: Gold Plus, Target Stroke Honor Roll, Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• UPMC Altoona: Gold Plus, Target Stroke Elit Plus Honor Roll, Target Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll, Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• UPMC Bedford: Silver Plus, Rural Silver, Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• UPMC Somerset: Gold Plus, Rural Gold, Target Stroke Elite Honor Roll
“The UPMC hospitals in the West Central Pa. and Maryland region are united in their mission to deliver exceptional stroke care by following the most current clinical guidelines,” said Dr. David Burwell, chief quality officer, UPMC in West Central Pa. and Maryland. “These recognitions validate the hard work of our teams and their dedication to helping patients in our communities live longer, healthier lives.”
To earn Gold Plus status, hospitals must reach 85% compliance across numerous quality measures as outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for at least 24 consecutive months. The achievement measures are based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines established from the latest scientific evidence.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. experiences a stroke or heart attack and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Research shows that consistent adherence to treatment guidelines significantly improves patient outcomes.
For more information on cardiovascular and stroke care in UPMC’s West Central Pa. and Maryland region, visit UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.