KNI Comprehensive Stroke Program Earns Gold-Plus Quality Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2014) -- UK HealthCare's Kentucky Neuroscience Institute (KNI) has received the "Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award" for maintaining specific quality measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients.
 

KNI also received the association’s "Target: Stroke Honor Roll" for meeting stroke quality measures that reduce the time between hospital arrival and treatment with the clot-buster tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. Stroke patients who receive the drug within three hours of the onset of symptoms may recover more quickly and are less likely to suffer severe disability.

This marks the fourth year that KNI has received this designation.  

"This award provides patients with tangible evidence of KNI's commitment to the highest standard of stroke care," said Dr. Michael Dobbs, UK HealthCare's associate chief medical officer and chief of neurological services. "But patients aren't the only ones who benefit. By participating in the 'Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program,' we are able to share our expertise with other member hospitals around the country, including access to the most up-to-date research, clinical tools and resources, and patient education resources."

"What this means for Kentuckians is that the best possible stroke care is available right here in Lexington."

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States.  In Kentucky, cardiovascular disease (which includes stroke) is the leading cause of death.  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.