STAT– MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT, ON TIMELY MANAGEMENT OF STROKES AT NUMC, INCLUDED IN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND SAFETY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2012
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
STAT– MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT, ON TIMELY MANAGEMENT OF STROKES AT NUMC, INCLUDED IN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND SAFETY
EAST MEADOW, NY….Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, proudly announces that the radiology department team at the Nassau University Medical Center, has submitted a manuscript on the timely management of strokes, STAT—How to Make Every minute Count, that has been accepted for publication in the March 2012 Safety Net issue of the National Association of Public Hospitals (NAPH).
“This is fantastic news! Congratulations to the radiology team, headed by Victor Scarmato, MD, chair, Steve Lev, MD, neuroradiologist, Julia Grossman, and Toshimasa Clark, chief residents, upon being included in the NAPH Journal of Healthcare Quality and Safety in recognition of your combined efforts and achievements on the development of our stroke team program for the timely management of strokes,” said Gianelli. “Our stroke team has consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing the highest quality of care for our stroke patients and this recognition from NAPH confirms it.”
Jane Hooker, RN, MN, CPHQ, NAPH’s assistant vice president for quality, expressed her appreciation to the NUMC radiology team on behalf of Bruce Siegel, MD, NAPH’s President/CEO: “Many thanks for your contributions to the Journal of Healthcare Quality and Safety and for agreeing to attend the Press Event on March 15, 2012 in Washington, DC, concerning the upcoming distribution of the spring Journal. This event, dealing with quality care innovations in leading safety net hospitals, represents not only the success of your team, but of your organization.”
STAT studies are carefully selected subset of imaging studies that are prioritized due to their utility in assessing for emergent conditions. In order to facilitate our institutional goal of attaining designation as a NYS Stroke Center, the team reviewed the ongoing quality initiative that aims to ensure timely reporting and communication of critical results of tests and diagnostic procedures. Through monthly quality assurance meetings and the dedicated efforts of an interdisciplinary team of technicians from various departments including neurology and neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, radiologists, clinicians, nurses and information technology specialists, the team identified rate-limiting steps in the workflow, critically analyzed data in order to identify areas for improvements in NUMC’s system and devoted simple, yet effective solutions that may be generally applicable in order to optimize STAT turnaround times. The team has also begun an educational campaign, both in the hospital and in the community, to increase both caretaker and patient awareness as to the importance of prompt work-up of stroke symptoms. In 2011, NUMC achieved Gold Plus Performance Award designation for its stroke center recognizing its commitment to quality care.
“When it comes to averting the often devastating neurologic sequelae of stroke, every minute counts, and the changes that we have instituted in our department, in conjunction with the formation of our dedicated stroke team, have made a significant impact regarding the expeditious diagnosis and treatment of these patients,” said Dr. Lev. “We are fortunate to have had strong administrative support and the dedicated efforts of other departments, so necessary for program success and continuity. The quality principles we adopted should be applicable to other institutions as well.”
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NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
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