CHRISTUS Spohn Health System receives national awards for comprehensive stroke care

All three of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System’s rural hospitals are being recognized for excellence in stroke care by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

The national award, Get With The Guidelines – Stroke, is given to hospitals that have demonstrated excellence in stroke care. The recognition highlights the health care facilities providing the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines and quick recovery times. All three of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System’s rural hospitals were recognized:

• CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital – Alice received Rural Stroke Gold
• CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital – Beeville received Rural Stroke Gold
• CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital – Kleberg received Rural Stroke Gold

“I could not be more proud of the great care our stroke patients are receiving in our rural communities,” said Amanda Webb, regional director of neurosciences for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System. “The teamwork, collaboration and pride is palpable amongst the team and this is a significant achievement for them.”

On average, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke and every three minutes, someone dies of a stroke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot. When this happens, parts of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen needed, causing brain cells to die.

“There are millions of brain cells that are lost for every minute your brain isn’t receiving oxygen during a stroke, so every minute counts during treatment,” Webb said. “Our team consistently provides stroke treatment in less time than the national standard of 60 minutes and that is incredible for our patients.”

She said it is crucial to be able to react swiftly to a stroke to help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

The three hospitals underwent a rigorous process to receive this national accreditation. The hospitals demonstrated its commitment to quality care, following treatment guidelines and providing patients with education on health management and rehabilitation.

A stroke can happen to anyone and knowing the signs and symptoms is key. The easiest way to recognize stroke symptoms is the acronym: BE FAST:

• B: Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• E: Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
• F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• A: Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is very important.

“It is incredibly important for our communities to receive the highest level of care,” said Richard Morin, president of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospitals – Alice, Beeville and Kleberg. “This award reflects our commitment to respond quickly and ensure our patients receive the most advanced treatments available. Our patients and their families can rest assured that our facilities are outfitted with the comprehensive care they need and experts who stand ready to provide compassionate care.”