Baystate Franklin Medical Center Recognized for Commitment to Stroke Care

GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC) has earned the American Heart Assoc./American Stroke Assoc. Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Hospitals must achieve 85{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} or higher adherence to all Get with the Guidelines – Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieve 75{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} or higher compliance with five of eight Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Quality measures to receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

BFMC earned the award 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 should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“Baystate Franklin Medical Center is committed to providing leading-edge stroke care to our patients,” said Ronald Bryant, BFMC president. “This recognition is a reflection of the team’s dedication, hard work, and expertise.”

The stroke care at Baystate Franklin Medical Center doesn’t end when patients are discharged from the hospital. A stroke survivor group meets monthly, on the third Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.

“This is a very open-minded, non-judgmental atmosphere,” said Marianne Bishop, the group’s facilitator. “We are happy to offer support. Everyone is warm and funny; there are some really great laughs during the group. Even if you are on a rough road, we are all here to provide you with great education and great support.”

The group is open to stroke survivors and family members. For more information, call (413) 773-2641.

According to the American Heart Assoc./American Stroke Assoc., stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. 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.