For the second straight year, Rumford Hospital’s Emergency Department has received the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Rural Recognition Gold Award.
The ED was once again recognized for its efforts to optimize stroke care and reduce gaps in rural healthcare outcomes. Performance metrics include intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.
People who live in rural areas have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. The award confirms that Rumford Hospital is committed to changing that.
“We are incredibly proud that our team at the Rumford Hospital ED is being recognized for the important work they do every day to improve the lives of people in the River Valley who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Stephany Jacques, president of Rumford Hospital. “I’m proud of our team’s commitment to stroke care excellence and of this achievement.”