News
Beebe Medical Center Earns Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification
12/29/10
Beebe Medical Center has received certification from The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. The certification means that Beebe Medical Center provides a nationally recognized standard of care that fosters the best possible outcomes for stroke sufferers. It also means that Beebe Medical Center is ready and able to treat patients with stroke twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven days a week.
This is a tremendous accomplishment for a community hospital and reflects the commitment of the entire staff at Beebe Medical Center, says neurologist Abraham Scheer, MD, Medical Director of Beebe Medical Center's Neurology/Stroke Services Program. Dr. Scheer joined Beebe Medical Center a little over a year ago with the goal of leading the hospital in the effort to attain the stroke center certification. Stroke is a serious and all too common problem and we must be prepared to recognize and treat stroke sufferers in a quick and efficient manner. As a certified Stroke Center, Beebe Medical Center is now recognized as a hospital of choice in a stroke emergency.
Beebe Medical Center has treated more than 700 patients over the past year suffering either a stroke or a mini-stroke. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. It is also a major cause of serious and long-term disability throughout the United States, forever changing a person's life. The American Heart Association estimates that about 795,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, equating to an occurrence of a stroke every 40 seconds. Stroke kills someone every four minutes.
Emergency care within the first three hours of a stroke can mean the difference between life and death, full recovery or permanent disability for stroke victims. Beebe Medical Center has implemented the quality care measures for optimal outcomes. Those include the aggressive use of medications, such as the clot-busting medication tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), as well as the use of antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, and cholesterol-reducing drugs. Beebe Medical Center also offers a patient education program that includes information about stroke, the treatment provided and the importance of lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation.
A multi-disciplinary team of neurologists, emergency room physicians and staff, nurses, respiratory therapists and other clinicians focus on the clinical requirements necessary for the health and safety of the stroke patient. Beebe Medical Center has had a Rapid Response Team, which is made up of medical specialists and is available around the clock in the event of a medical emergency available for several years.
Beebe Medical Center's Stroke Program includes an educational component assuring that all hospital employees are trained to recognize the signs of stroke and know what action they must take if someone is presenting symptoms. The multi-disciplinary team takes part in daily rounds of all stroke patients within the hospital. Specialized nurses provide outreach education within the community.
The certification represents the culmination of an effort Beebe Medical Center began more than a year ago to develop the hospital-wide stroke program grounded in evidence-based protocols. In May 2010, Beebe Medical Center's efforts were recognized when it received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award.
The Joint Commission issues a certification only after an on-site review is carried out that assesses the hospital's commitment to excellence in providing disease-specific services in a comprehensive manner.
Joint Commission representatives told us that we earned a 100% on our review, which is the highest you can earn in the country, Dr. Scheer said.
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It is important to get emergency medical care if you or someone you know is having a stroke. Time is critical. Call 911 if someone is suffering from the following symptoms:
FACE: A drooping of the face or mouth to one side
ARMS: The inability of the person to lift both arms at the same time -- one arm drifts downward
SPEECH: The person cannot repeat a simple sentence when asked.
Your quick response could save a life.
Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org
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