Los Robles Health System has received the American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the Mission Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for Heart Attack. The Stroke award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. The Mission Award recognizes the hospital’s achievement for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the AHA for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks.
AHA Get With The Guidelines Stroke Award:
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Los Robles Health System earned the Stroke award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients covering the full spectrum of care from diagnosis to recovery. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.
“Los Robles is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients,” says Dr. Gabriella Sherman, Chief Medical Officer of Los Robles Health System. “The tools and resources provided by the AHA help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”
Additionally, Los Robles received the Association’s Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award. Time is brain and to qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, ortPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. Los Robles also qualified for the Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award which recognize hospitals measuring Door-To-Device (DTD) times. As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, Los Robles has a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
Mission Lifeline Award for Severe Heart Attack
Los Robles Health System also received the Mission: Lifeline® Silver Receiving Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the AHA for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
The AHA’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Los Robles earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.
“Los Robles is dedicated to providing optimal care for heart attack patients,” says Natalie Mussi, CEO of Los Robles Health System. “We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in cardiac care through Mission: Lifeline.”