Updated: Thursday, December 18 2014, 06:35 PM EST
Rochester General Hospital has received an award for its stroke treatment.
RGH received the Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
This recognition is earned by hospital teams who achieve specific quality measures identified as vital for the optimal treatment of stroke.
Rochester General was also re-certified by the AHA/ASA as a Target: Stroke Honor Roll hospital, for continuing to meet quality goals aimed at reducing the time between a patient's arrival at the hospital and their receiving the clot-busting drug tPA, the only FDA-approved drug in the treatment of ischemic stroke.
Patients who receive tPA within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms are more likely to recover quickly and avoid severe disability.
Two million brain cells are lost every minute during a stroke, making the speed at which effective treatment is administered a leading factor in the patient's chances of achieving a full recovery.
For years, the Rochester General emergency department has treated more stroke patients than almost any upstate New York hospital.
"Rochester General Hospital has long been known as a leader in developing processes that improve the quality of stroke care," said Dr. Kelly Matmati, Stroke Program Director. "This award is further recognition of our commitment to provide our patients with the best possible care that helps them enjoy longer, healthier lives."
The hospitals of Rochester Regional Health System have all been recognized for high achievement in stroke care. Earlier this year Unity Hospital also received the Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold-Plus award; and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital earned the AHA/ASA's Bronze Quality Achievement Award in that program.
Continue reading here:
Rochester General Hospital receives award