Jefferson Health received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized research-based guidelines.

Adhering to these proven practices leads to more lives saved, reduced long-term disability, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number five causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, causing brain cells to die.

The term “time is brain” refers to the nearly 2 million brain cells that are lost every minute when stroke is untreated. That’s why immediate treatment is essential to increasing survival and reducing long-term disability.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals across the country helping ensure that high-quality care is given to patients experiencing a stroke or cardiac disease. Every year, program participants qualify for awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving care.

“This recognition from the American Heart Association affirms the dedication on the part of our clinical teams to improving health outcomes for patients experiencing a stroke or heart disease by applying these proven practices,” said Baligh R. Yehia, MD, president, Jefferson Health and executive vice president, Jefferson. “Across Jefferson, clinicians are on the front lines providing quick emergency responses, administering lifesaving clot-busting drugs, performing advanced surgeries and providing immediate treatment prior to hospitalization in our mobile stroke units. Our focus is also on preventive care, helping people manage or avoid diabetes and other conditions that can cause a stroke or heart disease.”

The following is a list of all Jefferson Health awards with their specific targets.

To qualify, hospitals must meet specific criteria.

This includes Target: Stroke Award for reducing the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy; Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy Award for meeting specific criteria that reduces the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke; Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award for ensuring patients with type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke; and Heart Failure Awards for demonstrating a commitment to reducing readmissions and increasing healthy days at home.

The awards include:

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus, with targets Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and Stroke Elite Honor Roll.

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks, Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus, with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.