LOS ANGELES (May 3, 2012) – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Stroke Program was spotlighted by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association April 18 for earning the highest achievement in the association's initiative to improve outcomes for patients suffering strokes: the Get With the Guidelines Gold Plus award.
The Gold Award is given to centers that maintain high performance levels for two years or more; Plus designation represents additional compliance in certain quality measures.
"This recognition speaks highly of the 24-hour-a day dedication of our Stroke Program team. Most importantly, it brings into focus the fact that rapid and consistently extraordinary care can and does make a difference in patients' lives," said Patrick D. Lyden, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology and the Carmen and Louis Warschaw Chair in Neurology at Cedars-Sinai.
Shlee Song, MD, associate director of the Stroke Program, and board-certified registered nurses Laurie Paletz and Betty Robertson accepted the award. Paletz is the Stroke Program coordinator.
In 2008, the Stroke Program earned Primary Stroke Center Certification from The Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs. Based on recommendations published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association's statements and guidelines for stroke care, Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes a center's commitment to following national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes.
Cedars-Sinai is an Approved Stroke Center of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency and a regional referral center capable of providing comprehensive care for complicated or critically ill patients, those with hemorrhagic strokes, and those who may benefit from advanced technologies.