PRESS RELEASES

Hospitals Win Silver Plus Performance Award 

BEVERLY HOSPITAL, ADDISON GILBERT HOSPITAL WIN PRESTIGIOUS SILVER PLUS PERFORMANCE AWARD
Award demonstrates commitment to quality care for stroke patients

(Beverly, MA) – June 7, 2010 – Northeast Health System announced today that two of its acute care hospitals, Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital, have received a prestigious achievement award from the American Heart Association.  

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award” recognizes Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals’ commitment to and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care.  Each campus was recognized because of the significant number of stroke patients that receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. 

“When a stroke hits every second is critical, and the Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award demonstrates that our staff is committed to providing care that has been shown in scientific literature to quickly and efficiently treat stroke patients,” said Ken Hanover, president and CEO of Northeast Health System, parent company of Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals. “Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals are committed to providing the highest quality medical care to our patients, and these guidelines along with this award recognize that commitment.” 

To receive the Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award, Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital achieved at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines Stroke Performance Achievement indicators and achieved at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

“Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital should be commended for their commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.  “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”

“Get With The Guidelines Stroke” uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability.  On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines. 

Northeast Health System, Inc.

Northeast Health System, Inc. (NHS) is an integrated healthcare system comprised of a network of hospitals, behavioral health, senior health and human service affiliates offering North Shore residents general and specialized medical care.  Along with Beverly, Addison Gilbert and BayRidge hospitals and the Beverly Hospital at Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center – NHS’s four acute care facilities – behavioral health services are provided through Health & Education Services, Inc., while substance abuse and preventative services are available through CAB Health & Recovery Services, Inc. In addition, NHS offers senior health services through a continuum of care including skilled nursing and assisted living centers and community based programs.