Dec. 19, 2006 Stroke patients can rest-assured they are getting the highest quality of care if they seek treatment at Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent Medical Centers. Both medical centers recently received prestigious “Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Performance Awards” from the American Heart Association. Oregonians are at higher risk for stroke than people living in most other states. Oregon has the fifth highest stroke death rate in the country, making this recognition even more valuable to our community. Providence Portland Medical Center is one of only 6 medical centers in the country to receive the “Get With The Guidelines – Sustained Performance Award,” recognizing two or more years of performance excellence. “Getting this award reflects the commitment of a multidisciplinary team working together,” said Dr. Lisa Yanase, Medical Director of Providence Portland Stroke Center. “Beginning with emergency responders—all the way through to rehabilitation, we have a vision of providing the best possible care to our patients through all stages of their experience following their stroke.” Providence St. Vincent Medical Center received the “Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) – Annual Performance Achievement Award,” recognizing 12 consecutive months of stroke care that meets the highest standards. Hospitals participating in the GWTG program must develop a comprehensive system for providing rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke when patients are admitted to the emergency department. This includes providing the only FDA approve drug treatment for stroke, tPA, a clot-busting medication that must be given within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. “When treating a stroke, every minute counts. Time is brain,” said Dr. Ted Lowenkopf, Medical Director of Providence Stroke Center. “The faster a stroke is treated, the less likely a patient will suffer long-term disability. Providence has a team of highly-qualified experts who are committed to providing superior treatment.” That Providence stroke team includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventionalists, radiologists, nurses and therapists who quickly diagnose patients and use the most technically advanced methods to remove clots, repair broken arteries that cause strokes, and restore blood flow to the brain. As a GWTG participant, Providence medical experts also use the “teachable moment” – the window of time immediately after a person has had a stroke, when they are most likely to follow their doctor’s guidance. Studies show patients who are taught to manage their risk factors while in the hospital reduce their risk of a second stroke. Providence medical centers provide information on secondary stroke prevention by managing smoking, weight, diabetes, and cholesterol. Providence Health & Services is seen as a regional and national leader in stroke management and treatment. Providence Stroke Center is the first nationally certified stroke center in Oregon and is actively engaged in clinical research. These results are already being used to improve stroke care in Oregon. The Providence Stroke Center, based at Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland Medical Centers, and Providence Milwaukie Hospital treats more than 1,000 patients a year. Providence St. Vincent is home to the region’s most advanced neuro-biplane suite. This advanced, minimally invasive technology provides physicians unparalleled three-dimensional-imaging of a patient’s brain's blood vessels to help remove blood clots or repair damage caused by strokes. Providence Stroke Center, Oregon’s first JCAHO- certified program for stroke care, works in cooperation with the Oregon Stroke Center to provide round-the-clock acute stroke evaluation and cutting-edge treatment. Providence Stroke Center is part of the Providence Brain Institute. For more information, visit www.providence.org/brain.
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