IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital nationally recognized for commitment to providing high-quality stroke care

IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital have received American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines^® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer hospital readmissions.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

“We are proud that our teams at IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital are being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in our counties and surrounding communities who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Larry Bailey, IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital Chief Operating Officer. “Rural communities deserve high quality stroke care. I'm proud of our team for their commitment to stroke care excellence and this achievement.”

This year, the teams received these achievement awards:

• Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze award
  • IU Health Paoli Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Silver award
  • IU Health Bedford Hospital

“These awards show these team's commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, IU Health Bedford Hospital and IU Health Paoli Hospital can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”