Scott & White - Round Rock Named a Target: Stroke Honor Roll Site

ROUND ROCK, TX - Scott & White Healthcare – Round Rock is one of just 10 hospitals in the State and the only hospital in Central Texas to be awarded an 'Honor Roll Site' status for the American Stroke Association's Target: Stroke program. The program seeks to help hospitals reduce the time it takes for a clot-busting drug, rt-PA, to be administered after a stroke.

According to the American Stroke Association, "one minute of brain ischemia can kill two million nerve cells and 14 billion synapses. That means the more time that elapses before receiving treatment, the slimmer the odds of a good outcome. The upside is a great opportunity to improve outcomes simply by providing the right treatment, right away. Target: Stroke was created to help hospitals seize that opportunity by achieving door-to-needle (DTN) times of 60 minutes or less."

Scott & White – Round Rock is a Get With the Guidelines Stroke-Gold Plus hospital, a performance achievement award for the hospital’s commitment to providing a high standard of stroke care according to national guidelines. The hospital also boasts a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center designation and was the first in Williamson County to receive it in 2009. Scott & White's multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and therapists all make up its stroke response team; a designated stroke program ensures patients receive the best possible hospital care and have fewer stroke complications.

"We’re excited to receive this additional designation for our stroke program," explains Ernie Bovio, CEO of the Scott & White– Round Rock Region. "We have a multi-disciplinary neuroscience team here that has developed best practice and   improved processes to further speed treatment to stroke patients."

What is Target: Stroke? Target: Stroke is a national quality improvement campaign created by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to improve outcomes for ischemic stroke patients by helping hospitals achieve door-to-needle (DTN) times of 60 minutes or less.

Despite evidence that shorter DTN times can improve outcomes, treatment is often delayed due to lags in assessment and/or rt-PA administration. Through Target: Stroke, hospital teams can work toward eliminating delays and reducing long-term disability in stroke patients.

Another important factor in improving stroke care for our community is public awareness and responsiveness at the first signs of stroke. That's why it's important that people know their risk factors and call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke.

Stroke warning signs include: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

For more information, contact:

Katherine Voss
Scott  & White Healthcare
kvoss@swmail.sw.org

January 4, 2012