USA Health University Hospital Nationally Recognized with Three New Awards for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

USA Health University Hospital Nationally Recognized with Three New Awards for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

USA Health University Hospital recently received three American Heart Association (AHA) awards for continued excellence in providing life-saving cardiovascular care to patients.

The first recognition, the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines - Stroke quality achievement award recognized University Hospital for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and fewer people with disabilities.

University Hospital also received the AHA’s Target: Stroke Elite Plus award and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for the elite plus recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria reducing the time between a patient’s arrival and treatment with a clot-busting drug.

The Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition was awarded to University Hospital because staff members ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who could be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with a stroke.

“We are elated to receive these awards again, acknowledging our team’s dedication to the Gulf Coast community,” said Shelia Ross, D.N.P., RN, director of the stroke program at University Hospital. “Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause for long term disability for all Americans, and we strive to be on the forefront of stroke care to help reduce the chance of death or disability due to a stroke in our community.”

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping to ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines program, University Hospital qualified for the awards by demonstrating how the organization is committed to improving quality care.

“University Hospital is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for strokes,” said Shannon Scaturro, M.S.H.A., CRNA, chief operating officer at USA Health and interim administrator at University Hospital. “The Get With The Guidelines program makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, ensuring our community leads longer, better lives.”

“We are pleased to recognize University Hospital for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

About USA Health

USA Health is the University of South Alabama’s health system and the only academic health system in the upper Gulf Coast region. With nearly 30 care delivery locations, including USA Health University Hospital, USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, and physician practices sites throughout the area, the health system melds clinical care, research and healthcare education into the most advanced medical care in the region