Shoalhaven District Hospital is one of 13 hospitals named as Excellence Award winners in the 2021 Australian Stroke Coalition (ASC) Quality Stroke Service Awards.
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The awards, announced at the 30th annual Scientific Meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia on Friday (October 15) recognise Australia's top hospitals in delivery of quality, evidence-based stroke treatment and care.
Excellence is measured by hospitals that achieve nine best-practice stroke treatment and care benchmarks, including treatment with thrombolysis (blood clot-dissolving treatment) within 60 minutes of hospital arrival, the provision of stroke unit care, and the provision of a care plan at time of discharge from hospital.
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It's the second time in as many months the stroke team at Shoalhaven Hospital has been recognised for its work.
In September the team was awarded the prestigious World Stroke Organisation Angels Gold Status Award for meeting the highest standards in stroke treatment and care in September.
Those awards were facilitated by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and were open to regional hospitals participating in the NSW Realising Improvement in StrokE program (RISE) stroke registry.
This latest honour sees Shoalhaven Hospital grouped with the likes of Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Sutherland Hospital and Northern Beaches Hospital in NSW; Redcliffe Hospital, Townsville Hospital, Cairns Hospital, Emerald Hospital and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital in Queensland and Goulburn Valley Health, Echuca Regional Health, Wimmera Base Hospital and Peninsula Health - Frankston Hospital in Victoria.
Do you know how to detect a stroke?
Have you heard of the F.A.S.T. test? An easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke:
- Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
- Arms - Can they lift both arms?
- Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
- Time is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.
F.A.S.T. is recognised internationally and it's known that 80 per cent of strokes will show at least one of the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke.
Monash University professor Dominique Cadilhac, who is the Data Custodian: Australian Stroke Clinical Registry and Australian Stroke Data Tool for the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health said it was wonderful to see so many hospitals recognised.
"It was encouraging to see a greater number of hospitals achieving excellence this year - 13 up from seven in 2020," Professor Cadilhac said.
"That reflects an ongoing dedication to achieve the best outcomes for patients with stroke to help them survive and live healthy lives into the future.
"I congratulate the winning hospitals."
It's estimated more than 27,400 people in Australia will have a stroke for the first time in their lives in 2021, while 225 people experienced a first time stroke in the Gilmore electorate in 2020.
Stroke strikes the brain, the human control centre. It can change lives in an instant for the individual and their loved ones.
It's estimated more than 27,400 people in Australia will have a stroke for the first time in their lives in 2021, while 225 people experienced a first time stroke in the Gilmore electorate in 2020.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan said stroke is always a medical emergency, but it can be treated, and it can be beaten.
"We know that patients with stroke, who get to hospital quickly and are treated in dedicated stroke units, will have the best chance of survival, recovery and prevention of recurrent stroke," she said.
"These hospitals are leading the way. It is particularly heartening to see so many regional hospitals achieving an excellence award this year."
The 2021 awards have been based on data submitted to the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) from July 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and the Stroke Foundation Acute Audit for time period January 2020 to June 2021.
The care being delivered by these hospitals is in line with National Stroke Guidelines and National Acute Stroke Clinical Care Standards.
The 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Stroke Society of Australasia is being held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and online.
It brings together stroke experts from across the country to share the latest innovations in stroke prevention, treatment and recovery.
For more information visit https://ssastrokeconference.com.au/
