Seton Medical Center Receives "GWTG – Stroke"
Initial Performance Achievement Award 

Seton Medical Center receives Get With The GuidelinesSM – Stroke (GWTG – Stroke) Initial Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association at the 2007 International Stroke Conference in San Francisco.

Seton Medical Center is one of 68 hospitals in the United States recognized for this achievement, signifying their achievement of an aggressive goal of treating stroke patients with 85% compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for stroke patients for 90 consecutive days.

GWTG-Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve acute stroke treatment and prevent future strokes and cardiovascular events. GWTG-Stroke focuses on quick diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients through Primary Stroke Centers.  GWTG – Stroke was first introduced in 2004 and has 501 hospitals currently participating.  Stroke is the third largest cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the GWTG–Stroke Performance Achievement Award recognizes success in improving time to treatment along with other aspects of stroke care,” said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., American Heart Association volunteer chairman for the national GWTG Steering Committee. “Improving the care received by stroke patients can improve their clinical outcomes after an event.  We are proud of Seton Medical Center’s commitment and want to commend them for implementing lifesaving standards and protocols for stroke care.”

“We are pleased to be recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for adopting best practices and providing our team of specialists with the tools and resources to improve the quality of care and long-term outcomes of our stroke patients,” said Bernadette M. Smith, President  & CEO of Seton Medical Center/Seton Coastside. “This recognition is a testament to the pioneering history of this institution and its innovations to cardiovascular care over the past two decades.”