By Richard Yager
The American Heart Association’s most prestigious award for hospitals caring for stroke patients was presented to Kendall Regional Medical Center (KRMC) during an Aug. 12 ceremony witnessed by more than 40 members of the KRMC specialist staff.
The nation is reading about the distinction in an advertisement published in the August issue of U.S. News & World Report, titled “America’s Best Hospitals,” noted Ann Mroz, AHA regional director, while presenting a plaque and congratulations to Mauricio Sirvent, CEO of KRMC, during the ceremony in the main lobby of the hospital.
Joining in the special moment were Ricardo Souto and Jania Llanes, two former stroke patients who stood for congratulatory wishes following their recoveries attributed to the care provided by the KRMC staff.
Sirvent, together with Dr. Ricardo Garcia-Rivera, a neurologist and director of the KRMC Stroke Program, credited “a great team” of stroke staff members with winning the award that recognizes the commitment and success of KRMC’s implementation of stringent guidelines.
Kendall Regional achieved an 85 percent or higher adherence to an AHA-developed program, “Get With The Guidelines,” that requires adherence to stroke performance achievement indicators during two consecutive 12-month intervals, as well as achieving 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 guideline “Quality Measures” that report initiatives measuring the quality of care.
The American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association noted that stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Someone will suffer a stroke every 45 seconds (on average) with death occurring every three minutes. Yearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke.
A total of 961 awards were given for achievement in coronary artery disease, stroke and/or heart failure treatment in the current national program.
Kendall Regional Medical Center, affiliated with HCA East Florida, noted a sister facility, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, received the American Stroke Association’s Performance Achievement Award.
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