Baystate Franklin Medical Center received the Coverdell NIH (National Institutes of Health) Stroke Scale Rate of 100 Percent Award from the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).
About the Award
The Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded quality improvement collaborative administered by the Department of Public Health. It supports Primary Stroke Service hospitals.
This award recognizes the hospitals that performed NIH Stroke Scale assessments on 100% of stroke patients from January 2015-December 2015.
The NIHSS is an evidence-based tool that is used to provide a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurologic deficit.
Diane Stephan, RN, BSN, Emergency Department nurse educator and stroke coordinator at Baystate Franklin, attended the event in Boston to accept the award.
“At Baystate Franklin, we strive to provide exceptional care to all of our patients," said Stephan. “We are proud that our commitment to providing quality stroke care was recognized by this prestigious award from the DPH’s Coverdell Stroke program.”
Baystate Franklin also recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. This is Baystate Franklin’s fourth consecutive year earning a Gold Plus rating.
Stroke Sign & Symptoms
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the Commonwealth, and a leading cause of adult disability. Immediate assessment and treatment is critical to help improve outcomes.
Knowing the key signs and symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately can save a life. The F.A.S.T. acronym is an easy way to remember:
- Face: Ask the person to smile. Does their face look uneven?
- Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
- Speech: Ask the person to repeat a phrase. Does the speech sound strange?
- Time: If you observe these symptoms, call 9-1-1.