Freeman Earns Stroke Care Award

Freeman Health System received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® – Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Freeman’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

“For patients who have a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and this award demonstrates our commitment to ensuring care based on nationally respected clinical guidelines,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “Freeman is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines – Stroke program helps us achieve that goal.” 

Freeman 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 receive other care transition interventions.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2019, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.