Sarah Bush Lincoln continues to be recognized for its commitment to quality stroke care, as it was recently honored with two American Heart Association awards: The Rural Stroke Gold award and the Stroke Silver Plus award.
“It is truly humbling to be recognized by the American Heart Association again, and it is a reflection of our staff’s dedication to providing compassionate, quality care,” SBL President and CEO Kim Uphoff said. “We pride ourselves on being a trusted healthcare organization serving a rural community, and these awards reinforce our mission.”
Rural Stroke Gold is a recognition program designed specifically to recognize hospitals serving rural communities. Rather than focusing on the standard achievement measure methodology, eligibility is based on performance in the Rural Acute Stroke Composite Score, which reflects performance across several stroke care processes important in rural settings.
To earn Silver, hospitals must demonstrate sustained adherence to the American Heart Association's core stroke achievement measures for 12 consecutive months, and the “Plus” designation recognizes additional performance on quality measures.
These awards symbolize that SBL ensures people experiencing a stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, helping to save lives and reduce disability.
In addition to providing immediate care for people experiencing a stroke, the award also recognizes that SBL provides education to help them manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.
“Strokes continue to be one of the leading causes of death and disability in the nation, and the key to limiting its effects is treating someone experiencing symptoms right away,” SBL Neurologist Fatima Alao, MD, said. “We are honored to receive this award and strive to continue to provide this quality care.”