Mount Nittany Health is pleased to announce that it has been honored with the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get with the Guidelines-Stroke quality achievement award. This recognition underscores our organization’s dedication to delivering exceptional care to patients in accordance with well-established, evidence-driven protocols. Our commitment translates into an increased number of lives saved and a reduction in disability rates. As the fifth leading cause of death, and a leading cause of disability in the United States, early stroke detection and treatment are the keys to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times.

“Early stroke intervention is paramount to saving lives and minimizing long-term disabilities,” said Jeffrey Elias, DO, FACEP, Emergency Medicine, Mount Nittany Medical Center. “By adhering to the rigorous standards set forth by the American Heart Association’s guidelines, we ensure that every patient being treated for symptoms of a stroke at Mount Nittany Medical Center receives the highest quality of care. Our commitment to following protocols underscores our dedication to providing the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Get with the Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence and research-based guidelines. Get with the Guidelines-Stroke is an in-hospital program that improves stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke, and even prevent death.

“I am so proud that Mount Nittany Health has once again been recognized with the Get with the Guidelines Stroke quality achievement award,” said Nina Campbell, MSN, RN, Stroke and Sepsis Coordinator, Mount Nittany Health. “Get with the Guidelines streamlines the application of established knowledge and recommendations by our teams in their daily routines. Research indicates that this practice contributes to improved patient recovery outcomes, contributing to Mount Nittany Health’s mission of ‘Healthier people, stronger community.’”

Get with the guidelines emblem

Each year, health systems around the country qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. Program participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. Approximately 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so the brain cells die.

It is crucial that everyone knows the following signs of a stroke:

• Balance. Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?
• Eyes. Has the person lost total or partial vision in one or both eyes?
• Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms. Ask the person to lift both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech. Ask the person to repeat one particular phrase. Is their speech slurred or unusual?
• Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Please join us in congratulating the many departments and service lines who contributed to the American Heart Association’s GoldPlus Get with the Guidelines-Stroke quality achievement award. Thank you for the attention and compassionate care you provide, and for contributing to our mission of “Healthier people, stronger community.”