2/24/2016
Valdosta, GA – The Stroke Program at South Georgia Medical Center was honored again for outstanding stroke care by the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry (GCASR). This is SGMC’s third consecutive award from GCASR as the Coverdell Champion Hospital of the Year in the medium-sized hospital category (101-350 beds).
The award is granted to one hospital in each bed-size category ranging from very small to large, based on a point system. Winners achieved the highest percentage of points using an intricate criteria of nationally accepted best practices.“This statewide acknowledgment affirms the superior stroke care SGMC strives to provide,” said SGMC CEO Dr. Raymond Snead. “The physician champions and hospital staff are to be commended for this award and saving countless lives.”
According to SGMC’s Neurostroke Team Medical Director S. Brian Dawson, MD, it is SGMC’s multidisciplinary stroke team involving EMS, the emergency department, affiliated physicians, inpatient nursing and rehabilitation services that makes awards, like these, possible. “Since the program’s beginning in 2011, SGMC has committed resources and training to build a stroke program of the highest quality,” says Dr. Dawson. “SGMC uses advanced, evidence-based guidelines to diagnose, treat, and reduce death and disability for stroke patients.”
The GCASR also recognized SGMC’s stroke program as one of four in Georgia having Door-to-Needle times averaging less than 45 minutes for diagnosing and administering clot busting medications (t-PA) to eligible stroke patients. The Coverdell Champion Hospital of the Year award was named in honor of the late Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia, who died of a massive stroke in 2000. The primary goal of the GCASR program is to improve the care of acute stroke patients in the hospital setting.
Other Georgia Coverdell 2016 Award winners are: Emory University, Atlanta, large hospital; Clearview Regional, Monroe, small hospital; and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, Greensboro, very small hospital. SGMC’s Neurostroke Team also received the American Heart Stroke Association’s Target Stroke Honor Roll Gold Plus ELITE Award, as well as designation as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care by the Women’s Choice Awards in 2015.
SGMC also carries the Certificate of Distinction for Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. For more information, visit www.sgmc.org/stroke.