The Sonoma Valley Hospital recently received certification as being “acute stroke ready” by the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality. The hospital received the certification based on its level of care – including its swift response and application of appropriate medication, according to SVH officials.
“Stroke certification is part of our commitment to provide the highest quality of care to our community,” said Kelly Mather, CEO of Sonoma Valley Hospital. “We know there is a short window of just a few hours that are critical in treating strokes, and patients who believe they have had a stroke can access that care in our emergency department at any time of the day or night.”
In the United States, on average, a stroke is suffered once every 40 seconds; it is the fifth major cause of death and a leading cause of disability in adults, according to the American Stroke Association and the American Heart Association.
Among the protocols the hospital follows are attending to a suspected stroke patient within 15 minutes of arrival at the hospital, and utilizing telemedicine via UCSF neurologists within 20 minutes if necessary, and providing any diagnostic imaging, lab testing and administration of clot dissolving medical care as quickly as possible.
For more information, visit svh.com/strokeready.
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