Willis Knighton Health Stroke Centers at Willis Knighton Pierremont and Willis Knighton Bossier have received the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The award recognizes the health organization’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Willis Knighton also was recognized with the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards.
The stroke program earned the awards 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.
“This award is a testament to the dedication of Willis Knighton Health in caring for stroke patients,” said Brittney Anderson, RN, stroke coordinator at Willis Knighton Pierremont. “This means patients are receiving the highest quality stroke care year after year with a focus not only achieving but exceeding national standards.”
Willis Knighton Bossier stroke coordinator Sheryl Adair, BSN, CCRN, PCCN, added: “Being recognized for providing quality care motivates us to do our best and showcases the difference we are making in the lives of stroke patients and their families.”
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either 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. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
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 research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get with the Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
Willis Knighton’s first stroke unit opened at Willis Knighton Pierremont in 2016, and in 2017 it received The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The certification indicates it is a facility that gives highly reliable care for stroke patients. The protocols developed by the Willis Knighton Pierremont stroke team have been replicated for all Willis Knighton emergency departments.
The second stroke unit at Willis Knighton Bossier opened in February 2019. It received its TJC certification in December 2023. The six-bed unit is the second in the system that consolidates stroke patients into an area where a team with specialized training provides care.