Los Alamitos Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the Association’s Stroke SM Elite Plus and Type Two Diabetes Honor Role Awards.
This demanding program is designed for hospitals that have specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.
We are also very proud to have been awarded the 2021 Get with The Guidelines® – Stroke GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll Elite, Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll by the American Heart Association. Diabetes Honor Roll is a new award, first recognized in 2020. This achievement is for a series of quality metrics specific to the prevention and treatment of Diabetes in relation to the Stroke patient population.
“This continued certification and awards represent a long-standing dedication to excellence by our entire team of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, and quality improvement staff throughout this hospital,” said Judy Chabot, CNO Los Alamitos Medical Center. “We are honored to provide comprehensive stroke care to the Los Alamitos community and remain steadfast in our unwavering commitment to improve the lives of our patients.”
The first few minutes of a stroke are the most important, and when you or a loved one is having a stroke, you must act quickly. Doing so, could mean the difference between life and death. Research has shown that 2 million brain cells are lost within the first minute after a stroke begins. The faster a person who is having a stroke receives treatment, the better the chances of a complete recovery and life without disability.
“I am immensely proud of our dedicated team of highly trained specialists who have put so much effort toward these awards,” said hospital CEO, Kent Clayton. “In the first quarter of last year, at the height of the pandemic, our hospital had some of the lowest record times for treating this type of high-risk patient. Providing the best possible outcomes for our stroke patients through timely treatment, fostering prompt reintegration to the community is what we strive for.”
Recognize the signs of stroke and respond appropriately by calling 911 and BE FAST.
B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E – Eyes: Sudden vision change/trouble seeing
F – Face: One side of the face droops when the person smiles
A – Arm: One arm drifts down when the person raises arms
S – Speech: Person’s speech in slurred, slow or strange
T – Time: If you or someone around you is experiencing one, some or all of these symptoms, “BE FAST” and call 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.
Los Alamitos Medical Center has demonstrated the ability to comply with the stringent requirements of the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification Program. The Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification Program of DNV GL Healthcare USA, Inc. integrates certain requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Conditions of Participation for Hospitals, and Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition and Recommendations of the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association®.
