Harris Health System’s Ben Taub Hospital ranks among elite hospitals in the U.S. for its treatment and care of stroke and heart attack patients. The recent acknowledgements from the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association and the American College of Cardiology mean the hospital’s medical teams have the expertise and technology to administer life-saving care to the sickest patients.
Awards received are:
- 2019 Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll
- 2019 Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure Silver
- 2019 Mission: Lifeline® - STEMI Receiving Center – Gold Plus
- 2019 Mission: Lifeline® - NSTEMI – Gold
- 2019 American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award
These awards recognize the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart attack, heart failure and stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and these recognitions show Ben Taub Hospital's commitment to being one of the top hospitals in the country for providing aggressive, proven stroke care," says Naylon Bird, BSN, RN-BC, SCRN, manager, Stroke Program, Ben Taub Hospital.
Bird and Dr. Joseph Kass, chief, Neurology, and medical director, Stroke Service, Ben Taub Hospital, and associate professor, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, credit the program's continued success to its multi-disciplinary team that works to improve processes and maintain the highest standards of patient care.
Ben Taub Hospital earned the 2019 Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients receive education managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
“It is an honor to once again be recognized for our team’s exceptional commitment to the quality of care provided for our patients,” says Dr. Nathan Deal, executive vice president and administrator, Ben Taub Hospital. “This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the talent and expertise of our incredible staff.”
Dr. Nasser Lakkis, chief, Cardiology, Ben Taub Hospital, and chair and professor, General and Interventional Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, says providing successful outcomes for patients are what motivate him and his team to elevate the standard of heart care offered to patients.
“Our patients receive superior care,” Lakkis says. “Thanks to the leadership vision, transparency and continue review of processes, we reproduce our outcomes year after year. Our team takes pride in their jobs and is committed to improve patient outcomes.”
Hospitals receiving the Get With the Guidelines® Silver Performance Award ensure heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. Ben Taub Hospital reached the aggressive goal of treating patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standards levels of care as outlined by the AHA/ASA for one calendar year.
Meanwhile, NSTEMI Gold Hospitals earn recognition for achieving at least two consecutive years with 65 percent or higher adherence to dual antiplatelet therapy prescription at discharge and 75 percent or higher compliance on four quality measures.
Ben Taub Hospital received STEMI Receiving Gold Plus- STEMI Receiving Center for the same consecutive 24 month interval.
To receive the Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award, Ben Taub Hospital demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain – MI Registry for eight consecutive quarters and has performed at the top level of standards for specific performance measures.