CMMC recognized for stroke treatment

Courtesy / CMMC Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston

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By Staff

Central Maine Medical Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the Lewiston hospital's care of stroke patients.

CMMC has received a Get With The Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

It's the second time in a year that CMMC has been recognized for its stroke care. Last year, the medical center won accreditation for advanced primary stroke care from the Joint Commission, which accredits more 4,000 hospitals nationwide.

CMMC had to meet quality achievement measures for diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period to receive the most recent recognition, the hospital said in a news release. The measures include evaluation of the proper use of medication 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 should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions, the release said.

“CMMC is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing this stroke initiative,” said David Tupponce, president of the hospital and executive vice president of Central Maine Healthcare. “The tools and resources provided by the American Heart Association help us track and measure our success in meeting clinical guidelines and improving patient outcomes.”

CMMC also received the heart and stroke association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll Award. To qualify, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, a clot-buster that's the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to recognize Central Maine Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, national chair of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth most common cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Central Maine Medical Center includes the Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, among other services, and was named one of the nation's top 50 cardiovascular hospitals by IBM Watson in December.