Today, Riverside Health is proud to announce that four of its acute care hospitals have once again received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Quality Achievement Awards. In addition, the hospitals earned recognition for their commitment to providing evidence-based, high-quality stroke care for patients with Type 2 diabetes and those living in rural communities. Riverside Smithfield Hospital was not included among this year's award recipients, as the hospital must collect and submit a minimum of 12 months of stroke care data after opening before becoming eligible for award consideration.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the country and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when normal blood flow to the brain is interrupted from a blockage, the blood vessel ruptures, or bleeding occurs in the brain. 1.9 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated. Fast diagnosis and treatment of a stroke is critical in restoring blood flow and preserving as much brain function as possible.
“Receiving these awards year after year demonstrates the dedication of our teams to delivering high-quality, evidence-based stroke care,” said John N. Livingstone II, M.D., neurologist and medical director of Riverside Health’s Frank Sanderson, M.D., Stroke & Neurovascular Center. “When it comes to stroke, every second counts, and these awards recognize the urgency, expertise and teamwork our EMS partners and clinical teams bring to every patient encounter. We are proud to provide this level of care to the communities we serve.”
The latest recognitions continue a strong record of achievement across Riverside Health. Riverside Regional Medical Center has earned a Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Award six times in the past six years, while Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and Riverside Walter Reed Hospital have each received five awards. Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg earned its second award during that same period. In addition to its comprehensive stroke care achievements, Riverside also earned national recognition for providing high-quality stroke care in rural communities.
This year, Riverside Health received both the Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Rural Stroke Awards.
- Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg: Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
- Riverside Regional Medical Center: Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital: Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Silver
- Riverside Walter Reed Hospital: Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Bronze
Hospitals earned these recognitions by consistently meeting quality benchmarks over 24 and 12 months, respectively. These include timely evaluation and treatment, medication management, patient education, and post-discharge care planning — all designed to reduce mortality and improve recovery. Special designations such as Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Advanced Therapy require even faster treatment initiation, including protocols for clot-removal in eligible patients. Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll criteria ensure patients at higher risk for complications receive tailored, evidence-based care during hospitalization for stroke.
Learn more about stroke care services at Riverside by visiting riversideonline.com/stroke.