Cincinnati, OH – August 7, 2024 – UC Health has once again secured prestigious Gold Plus Awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) for its exceptional stroke care services. The awards highlight UC Health’s commitment to delivering superior stroke care across the Greater Cincinnati region.
UC Medical Center has received the 2024 Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Advanced Therapy. West Chester Hospital has received the 2024 Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll. This is the 10th year that UC Medical Center has received Gold Plus recognition and the seventh year for West Chester Hospital.
Stacie Demel DO, PhD, associate professor of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine at the UC College of Medicine and co-director of the UC Stroke Team, emphasized UC Health’s dedication: “At UC Health, we are dedicated to bringing world-class stroke treatment to patients and their families across our region and beyond. This is a wonderful recognition of our team but more importantly, the care patients can expect.”
These accolades underscore UC Health’s adherence to rigorous quality measures to improve stroke patient outcomes. Measures include optimizing medication use and implementing cutting-edge treatments aligned with evidence-based guidelines to enhance recovery and minimize mortality rates.
Natalie Kreitzer, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at the UC College of Medicine and medical director for stroke care at West Chester Hospital, expressed enthusiasm about expanding neurological care: “No matter where you are, exceptional stroke care should always be close to home. West Chester Hospital remains dedicated to meeting the neurological needs of our patients in this community and beyond.”
Stroke, a leading cause of disability and the fifth cause of mortality in the U.S., underscores the critical need for early detection and intervention. UC Health, home to Greater Cincinnati’s first adult Comprehensive Stroke Center and the region’s most experienced stroke team, is at the forefront of advancing stroke care.
Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, commended UC Health: “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes and lower mortality rates, benefitting healthcare systems, families, and communities alike.”
These awards recognize UC Health’s commitment to applying the most up-to-date evidence-based treatment guidelines to its patients, ensuring the best possible outcome. As a leader in stroke care within the Greater Cincinnati Region, UC Health is also home to the region’s first Mobile Stroke Unit, which quickly delivers advanced stroke care to those who need it most.
To learn more about UC Health and its Comprehensive Stroke Center, visit:
www.uchealth.com/en/neuroscience-institute/comprehensive-stroke-center
