Lawrence + Memorial Hospital receives Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

NEW LONDON, CT (Aug. 11, 2020) ― Lawrence + Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

L+M earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“At L+M we pride ourselves on our dedication to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients. This award is a reflection of our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes,” said chief medical officer Oliver Mayorga, MD.

Lawrence +Memorial Hospital is designated a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. This recognizes the high level of care we provide for stroke patients and their families. Available 24 hours a day, the Stroke Center’s specially trained team includes neurologists, emergency medicine physicians, radiologists, nurses, clinical pharmacists, emergency medical technicians, rehabilitation therapists, speech pathologists and others. The Stroke Center uses a comprehensive approach emphasizing rapid evaluation and treatment of stroke as well as patient education toward improving the outcome and quality of life for stroke patients.

“We are pleased to recognize Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for its commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of Neurology, director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.