UK King’s Daughters has earned the highest accolade for stroke care from the American Heart Association (AHA) for the twelfth consecutive year. The facility received the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus recognition, along with the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This prestigious distinction underscores the institution’s ongoing commitment to enhancing outcomes for stroke patients in the region.
This accomplishment is particularly significant, as UK King’s Daughters is one of only three medical centers in Kentucky to achieve this elite recognition, and it stands out as the sole institution in the Tri-State area to do so.
Impact on Patient Care
The Get With The Guidelines program acknowledges hospitals that consistently provide evidence-based care, leading to improved recovery rates, reduced disability, and enhanced survival for stroke patients. By adhering to stringent clinical guidelines, UK King’s Daughters ensures that patients receive timely and appropriate treatment—an essential factor in stroke care where every moment counts.
Research indicates that hospitals participating in this initiative report superior patient outcomes, including decreased readmission rates and a lowered risk of long-term disabilities. The recognition highlights UK King’s Daughters’ ability to not only meet but exceed the established standards set forth by the AHA.
Excellence in Performance Measures
Achieving this recognition is a complex process that reflects excellence across numerous performance metrics. These include:
– Administration of clot-busting medication (IV thrombolytics) within 4.5 hours of symptom onset
– Door-to-needle times, with medication delivered within 60 minutes; for the Elite Plus honor roll, 75% of patients receive treatment within 45 minutes, and 50% within 30 minutes
– Antithrombotic therapy provided by hospital day two and at discharge
– VTE prophylaxis and dysphagia screening completed by hospital day two
– Patient education on stroke and smoking cessation counseling
– Rehabilitation assessments
– Prescription of anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter
– Documentation of the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
– Intensive statin therapy prescribed at discharge
These comprehensive measures play a critical role in facilitating quicker recovery for stroke patients, enabling them to return to their daily lives with fewer complications.
The success of UK King’s Daughters is attributed to the dedication and coordination of its entire stroke care team. This includes emergency department physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, the ACT team, radiology and vascular lab teams, EMS crews, and many more specialists who work tirelessly to identify and treat strokes efficiently.
UK King’s Daughters recognizes that this award reflects the combined efforts of its staff, who demonstrate unwavering commitment to patient care from the moment a patient arrives until their full recovery.
Leading the Charge Against Stroke
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability across the United States. Nevertheless, healthcare institutions like UK King’s Daughters are making significant strides in addressing this critical issue. The AHA’s recognition confirms that the facility is not only aligning with national standards but is also setting a benchmark for excellence in stroke care.
The ongoing dedication of UK King’s Daughters to enhancing stroke care demonstrates its vital role in improving health outcomes for patients throughout the region. As the institution continues to build on its legacy of excellence, it stands as a beacon of hope for stroke patients and their families.