Lake Huron Medical Center has received an award from the American Heart Association acknowledging its efforts in responding to stroke victims.
The hospital announced it was a recipient of the association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus award.
The award indicates the hospital follows the latest evidence-based treatment for treating stroke patients to minimize death and disability in patients.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries blood to the brain is either blocked or bursts, causing brain cells to die from lack of oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Strokes can result in brain damage, disability and even death, though the risk of those symptoms can be minimized with immediate treatment. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.
The Get with the Guidelines program was developed in 2003 by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association with the goal of encouraging local hospitals across the country to improve their care for stroke patients. Participating hospitals are given access to up-to-date medical research and scientific publications and can have staff participate in educational workshops and webinars.
“Lake Huron Medical Center is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latesttreatment guidelines,” Chris Fulks, interim CEO of Lake Huron Medical Center, said in the announcement. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure morepeople in the Bluewater region can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Lake Huron Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2Diabetes Honor Roll award for its treatment of patients with diabetes, who are at greater risk of stroke.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: This St. Clair County hospital earned an American Heart Association award. Here’s what it is.
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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