North Oaks Medical Center Earns National Stroke Care Recognition for 2nd Straight Year

North Oaks Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus award for the second consecutive year, affirming its commitment to delivering evidence-based stroke care. The hospital also earned the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards.

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Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, North Oaks Medical Center qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.

The Gold Plus award acknowledges hospitals that maintain a prominent level of compliance with evidence-based stroke care measures over an extended period. The Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite designation recognizes hospitals that achieve rapid treatment times for eligible patients receiving clot-dissolving therapy. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognizes hospitals that provide evidence-based care for stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes, who face an increased risk of complications.

Since earning Primary Stroke Center designation in 2014, North Oaks Medical Center has continued to strengthen its stroke program through adherence to national quality standards, rapid treatment protocols and multidisciplinary care.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States. Studies show patients experience better outcomes when health care teams consistently follow proven treatment protocols.

For North Oaks Health's service area, the need is especially significant. According to stroke data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Louisiana has an age-adjusted mortality rate of 57.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with the national average of approximately 36 to 40 deaths per 100,000 residents. In communities facing an elevated burden of stroke, access to timely, evidence-based care can make a critical difference in survival, recovery, and long-term quality of life.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to providing exceptional stroke care for those we serve,” notes Rami Nelson, Chief Quality and Health Equity Officer for North Oaks Health. “With stroke affecting our region at rates higher than the national average, delivering timely, guideline-driven care is crucial.”

North Oaks Health President and CEO Michele K. Sutton, FACHE, affirms, “For more than a decade, we have invested in the expertise, technology and coordinated systems needed to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. This award honors the dedication of our care teams and their relentless focus on helping more patients return to their families and daily lives.”

“These awards reflect North Oaks Medical Center's commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular and stroke care,” comments Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association's quality improvement protocols, North Oaks Medical Center can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates—a win for patients, families and healthcare systems.”