When it Comes to Stroke, Every Minute Counts

EMMC recognized as a leader in providing high quality, timely stroke care
Bangor, Maine – “Time lost is brain lost” is a common saying when it comes to stroke care. Healthcare organizations focused on providing timely, high quality care are able to decrease the effect a stroke can have on a patient. Eastern Maine Medical Center has received recognition for its focus on these efforts through the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

EMMC achieved a high level of compliance with the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which measure the hospital’s ability to implement timely, appropriate care that is based on nationally-recognized stroke treatment guidelines. These measures include encouraging smoking cessation and appropriately using medications that can reduce death and disability and improve the lives of stroke patients.

In addition, EMMC has also been recognized as a recipient of the association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll. EMMC was cited for providing tissue plasminogen activator, also known as tPA, to at least 50 percent of eligible patients within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital. This clot-busting drug can reverse the effects of a stroke and improve long-term outcomes if given within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms.

“This recognition demonstrates EMMC’s commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care,” says Deviyani Mehta, MD, a stroke neurologist from Spectrum Medical Group, and medical director of EMMC’s stroke program. “Patients who come to EMMC with stroke symptoms can feel confident knowing EMMC is a leader in providing efficient, quality stroke care.”

EMMC is celebrating National Stroke Awareness Month by helping to raise awareness about stroke symptoms, risk factors, and treatment. Stroke Center staff recently participated in the Eastern Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Expo by providing screenings, assessing risk factors, and offering education to help people identify when a stroke is occurring and get help quickly.