All 10 Providence medical centers in Southern California were recognized this week for quality care in treating patients suffering strokes, standards measured by the American Heart Association’s and American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines awards program.

The Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award is given to hospitals that have experienced two or more consecutive years with a minimum 85 percent adherence with AHA/ASA achievement measures, and 75 percent on additional quality measures.

“We are employing the latest procedures and technology in order to extend the revolution in stroke care, which in many cases not only halts the stroke, but reverses its effects and restores function,” said Santa Monica-based neurosurgeon Neil A. Martin, M.D., executive medical director of neurosciences for Providence Southern California.

“Today, patients, who not long ago were destined for a lifetime of disability, now can be treated in minutes, recover in hours and walk out of the hospital in days.”

In Los Angeles County, the AHA/ASA Gold-Plus recognition was awarded to Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Burbank; Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Mission Hills; Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica; and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance.

This honor recognizes the hospitals’ commitment to and success in implementing a high standard of stroke care by ensuring stroke patients receive treatment that meets nationally accepted, evidence-based standards and recommendations.

“In many cases, paramedics bypass other hospitals to get to one of our Providence medical centers because of the expertise that has gained them recognition as elite award-winning destination stroke centers,” said Martin. “Our stroke teams are focused on relentlessly pursuing improvements in care, so that ever more patients can be saved.”

Additionally, Saint John’s was named to the Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and along with Saint Joseph, Holy Cross, and the Torrance and San Pedro hospital were designated for diabetes care. Saint John’s and Saint Joseph earned other top honors, making the Elite Plus Honor Roll, while Little Company of Mary Torrance garnished Elite Honor Roll status.

The Elite Plus Honor Roll level is based on adherence to target measures, and for the Elite Honor Roll, the speed at which patients are treated, which can make a critical difference.

In Orange County, Mission Hospital, with campuses in Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach, and St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton, earned the Gold Plus Achievement Award, were named to the Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and recognized for diabetes care. Mission also was recognized for advanced stroke therapy.
St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton earned the Gold Achievement Award; while St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, earned the Silver Achievement Award.

A Heart Association study shows stroke patients treated at hospitals participating in the national Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program were more likely to be discharged and less likely to die after leaving the hospital than patients in non-participating hospitals.

The awards go to hospitals that adhere to Get with the Guidelines indicators consistently and succeed in complying with recommended measures in treating stroke.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.