CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System receives national award for comprehensive stroke care
Hospitals in Jacksonville, Sulphur Springs, Tyler recognized for excellence in stroke care
(TYLER, Texas) – Three hospitals in the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Health System have been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for delivering high-quality stroke care.
The national award, Get With The Guidelines – Stroke, is given to hospitals that have demonstrated excellence in stroke care. The recognition was created to highlight the health care facilities providing the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines and quick recovery times.
• CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville received Stroke Silver Plus and Stroke Honor Roll
• CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs received Stroke Gold Plus, Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler received Stroke Gold Plus, Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
“These honors are a testament to the dedication of our teams that continuously strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients,” said Jennifer Burwell, stroke program manager at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler. “We are proud of this recognition and remain focused on pushing the standard of care even higher.”
All three CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System hospitals underwent a rigorous evaluation process to receive this designation. They demonstrated excellence in timely stroke intervention, adherence to national treatment guidelines and providing patients with education to support recovery and long-term health.
“As a rural critical access hospital, this award demonstrates the devotion of the entire team at CHRISTUS Jacksonville to bring prime health care specialty services to the residents of Cherokee County and the surrounding areas,” said Dwain Coates, stroke coordinator at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke and about every three minutes someone dies from one, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, cutting off the supply to brain tissue. When this happens, parts of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen needed, causing brain cells to die.
Knowing the symptoms and being able to react as quickly as possible to a stroke is crucial to help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death, said Kala Anders, stroke program manager at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs.
The easiest way to recognize stroke symptoms is the acronym BE FAST:
• B: Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• E: Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
• F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• A: Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is very important.
“Earning these awards provides confidence in the medical care that you can expect from any CHRISTUS facility,” Anders said. “These recognitions solidify that exemplary clinical stroke care and evidence-based, innovative treatment can be and is being provided to the people from the urban areas to the most rural areas all over Northeast Texas.”
