The Stroke Center at The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the only Certified Primary Stroke Center in the Knoxville region to earn the prestigious 2009 Get With the Guidelines Silver Award. Through the nationally followed Get With the Guidelines program of the American Heart Association, stroke care facilities are recognized for their adherence to the program’s stringent guidelines regarding quality and performance improvement measures for the care of stroke.

Corley Roberts, director of Quality Improvement Initiatives for the American Heart Association in Tennessee, presented members of the Stroke Center team at UT Medical Center with the award at a special presentation at the medical center Tuesday, March 24.

“Quality improvement is intentional, not by chance,” said Roberts. “UT Medical Center has intentionally and passionately worked hard to improve and standardize processes that in turn improve patient outcomes for stroke patients in the greater Knoxville area.”

By receiving the award, UT Medical Center will earn recognition in the upcoming July edition of U.S. News & World Report. In a planned multi-page advertisement by the American Heart Association in the magazine, UT Medical Center’s Stroke Center will join other centers across the nation being recognized for excellence in implementing and following the Get With The Guidelines program.

“It is an honor for The University of Tennessee Medical Center to receive the 2009 silver award because of what it means concerning the quality of stroke care we provide for our patients,” said Dr. John Beuerlein, medical director of UT Medical Center’s Stroke Center. “The entire Stroke Center team at UT Medical Center is committed to delivering positive outcomes for our patients and providing stroke education, outreach and prevention measures to people throughout our region.”

Through community outreach as well as patient and public education, Beuerlein said, UT Medical Center drives stroke awareness to East Tennessee residents. The medical center educates the public on the dangers and risks of stroke and how recognizing stroke warning signs can save a life.

There is no one signal that a person is having a stroke. For some people there may be severe pain in the form of a headache and for someone else it could be painless. If you experience any of the five warning signs of stroke, Beuerlein said, call 911. Stroke warning signs include

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden onset of double vision, dimness or loss of vision.
• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding.
• Sudden severe headache without apparent cause.
• Sudden unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or loss of balance, especially in combination with other signs.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States and the third leading cause of death, claiming more than 160,000 lives each year. While some stroke risk factors, including age, gender, race and family history, not controllable, other factors can be controlled. The clinical team of stroke care experts at UT Medical Center urge people to address those factors by quitting smoking and controlling and treating their blood pressure and diabetes.

Participating hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines program of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association must meet the guidelines by promoting the latest evidence-based treatment for patients with coronary artery disease, heart disease and stroke in an effort to improve health and save lives.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center became the region’s first Certified Primary Stroke Center in 2006 and earned Certified Primary Stroke Center recertification in 2008. Primary Stroke Center certification is awarded by The Joint Commission, which is recognized as the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body for healthcare organizations.

For more information on stroke, visit the Brain and Spine Institute.