Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
A destination for high quality stroke care in the Gulf Coast region has received national recognition. Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans (1514 Jefferson Hwy.) has received the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association’s "Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll Quality Achievement Award.”
Launched in 2001, the Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke program recognizes hospitals for ongoing commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
To qualify for Gold Plus level recognition, Ochsner’s stroke care consistently met specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients for 24 consecutive months or more. Rankings were determined by various measurements including proper use of medication and other stroke treatments along with educating patients on managing their health prior to discharge.
Ochsner also received the association’s Target: StrokeSM Elite Honor Roll. Launched in January 2015, Honor Roll level measures the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment. To qualify for Elite Honor Roll, Ochsner’s time to thrombolytic therapy was within 60 minutes in 75 percent or more of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) – a clot-buster and the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.
“Every second matters when someone is having a stroke and we are committed to increasing access to high quality stroke care both in person and through telemedicine. This national recognition underscores our commitment to quality of care and our passion for increasing access to stroke care across the Gulf Coast and beyond,” said Dr. Gabriel Vidal, medical director of stroke at Ochsner Health System.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. Ochsner’s multidisciplinary approach to stroke care encompasses inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational and speech rehabilitation and includes an innovative at home follow-up education program that decreases the rates of stroke recurrence and readmission.
Ochsner partners with more than 58 participating hospitals throughout Louisiana and Mississippi in a unique Telestroke Program. This program enables experts from both facilities to consult immediately with Ochsner vascular neurologists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, using telemedicine equipment to determine the best treatment options for stroke patients.
For more information about stroke care at Ochsner, please visit www.ochsner.org/stroke or call 504-842-3980.