Premier Health Hospitals Recognized for Excellence in Stroke Treatment

American Heart Association Awards recognize commitment to quality stroke care

DAYTON, Ohio (August 8, 2018) – Stroke remains among the top reasons for disability in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of death. Treatments such as IV clot dissolving medications (tPA) and procedures to open blocked arteries – when provided as soon as possible after the start of stroke symptoms – have both been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability.

Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital and Atrium Medical Center recently earned awards for providing the most appropriate stroke treatment in accordance with nationally recognized guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Through the Get With The Guidelines® program, Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke℠ Honor Roll Elite Plus. And Atrium Medical Center in Middletown earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke℠ Honor Roll Elite. 

Miami Valley Hospital and Atrium Medical Center earned their 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. 

Hospitals receiving a Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Achievement Award have reached an aggressive goal of treating patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association® for 2 consecutive calendar years. In addition, those hospitals have demonstrated 75 percent compliance to (four out of ten heart failure quality measures or seven out of ten stroke quality measures) during the 12-month period. 

“Time is of the essence when it comes to stroke response,” said Bryan Ludwig, MD, chair of the Premier Health Neuroscience Institute. “These awards demonstrate sustained quality and achievement by our highly trained, board certified professionals, who make use of advanced technology in the acute treatment of stroke across the Premier Health system.”

Miami Valley Hospital is the first and only hospital in the Dayton region to achieve certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and American Heart/American Stroke Association. Atrium Medical Center is certified as Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission and American Heart/American Stroke Association. Premier Health’s Upper Valley Medical Center and Miami Valley Hospital South are certified as Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals by The Joint Commission and American Heart/American Stroke Association.

Contact Us

Discover more about Premier Health and join us in building healthier communities in Southwest Ohio. Learn more about working at Premier Health, becoming a volunteer, and making a gift to support our mission.