Get with the Guidelines Program Aims to Improve Quality of Care Given to Stroke Patients

The goal of the GWTG program is to improve the overall quality of care for stroke patients by improving treatment and preventing future strokes. Set up by the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association and the Brain Attack Coalition, it helps hospitals utilize the published guidelines for the care of stroke patients and enlists a care team to ensure that patients are treated and discharged appropriately.

In order to improve the overall quality of care for first-time stroke patients and treatments for those who have a prior stroke history, the Neuro/Stroke Program at Long Beach Memorial and Saddleback Memorial have developed a comprehensive system for providing rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke when patients are admitted to the emergency department. This includes being equipped 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when necessary. Long Beach Memorial’s and Saddleback Memorial's GWTG program also aims to prevent secondary stroke using prevention guidelines that include aggressive use of medications, such as statins and anti-platelets, treatment of atrial fibrillation and atherosclerosis and management of smoking, weight, exercise, diabetes and cholesterol.

Participating hospitals are encouraged to develop a comprehensive system for providing rapid diagnosis and treatment when patients are admitted to the emergency department. Long Beach Memorial and Saddleback Memorial has assembled a multidisciplinary action team of doctors, registered nurses and other professionals to implement the treatments and guidelines.

Early diagnosis and intervention is important in preventing long-term damage. By educating the public, Long Beach Memorial and Saddleback Memorial physicians and staff hope to prevent the amount of damage done and possibly lower the number of strokes in the future.