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Mullica Hill, NJ (December 2, 2024) – Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill, Vineland, and Elmer, part of Inspira Health, have been honored with the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus awards. Additionally, both Mullica Hill and Vineland have achieved AHA’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll designations. These esteemed recognitions highlight the hospitals’ exceptional commitment to providing top-tier stroke care through adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines.
Every three minutes and 11 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies from a stroke, making it the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this occurs, brain cells die due to the brain not being able to receive blood and oxygen needed to function. Early stroke detection and treatment are critical to improving survival odds, minimizing disability risk and accelerating recovery times.
"Achieving these prestigious awards reflects the exceptional dedication of our teams to providing the highest quality care for our stroke patients, especially those with a higher risk such as individuals with type 2 diabetes" said Terri Veneziano, Chief Nursing Officer for Inspira Health. "As health care professionals, we can never underestimate the value of time when addressing life-threatening medical issues, and are committed to adhering to the latest treatment guidelines to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care, leading to better outcomes and enhanced quality of life in our community."
Having protocols in place for rapid assessment and treatment, and, when necessary, transfer to a comprehensive stroke center, helped Robert Bailey of Pittsgrove Township, NJ, quickly get the advanced care he needed, which resulted in a full recovery from his stroke. Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill, Vineland and Elmer are partner locations of Cooper and Inspira Neuroscience.
“The nurse in the ER immediately called a stroke protocol and took Bob for a CT scan,” said Bob’s wife, Allyson Bailey. “The whole process was seamless. The teams at Inspira and Cooper were both amazing.”
After being diagnosed at Inspira Medical Center Elmer, Bob was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital where he underwent a thrombectomy, a procedure that removed the blood clot that caused the stroke.
More than a year later, Bob reported, “I’m feeling good. I’m totally recovered from the stroke.”
Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke program promotes consistent adherence to the latest research-driven guidelines and measurement, while providing data and information to professionals for continual improvement in patient care. Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. To achieve Gold Plus status, stroke teams must demonstrate consistent excellence in meeting all seven Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Achievement Measures for 24 consecutive months or more. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines® participating hospitals also educate patients on managing their health and recovery at home to best avoid another stroke and improve overall quality of life.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill, Vineland and Elmer for their commitment to caring for patients who suffer from strokes,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Inspira Mullica Hill and Vineland also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic (clot dissolving) therapy. Additionally, both medical centers received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.
About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
