Baptist Health Paducah stroke program receives recertification

April 03, 2017

The Baptist Health Paducah stroke program recently received the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center for the fourth consecutive cycle.

The Baptist Health Paducah stroke program recently received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center for the fourth consecutive cycle.

 In achieving Joint Commission advanced certification, Baptist Health has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its stroke patients.

“This certification says we strive for the best possible care for our patients,” said neurologist Joseph Ashburn, MD, stroke medical director. “While meeting the minimum requirements for a stroke center is considered acceptable, we at Baptist Health believe the people of our region deserve nothing less than the very best medicine has to offer.

Last year, the hospital also received The Get With the Guidelines®Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for meeting national guidelines for stroke care.  In addition, the hospital received the associations’ Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite 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. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability.

“The care our patients receive is our No. 1 priority,” said William A. Brown, Baptist Health Paducah president. “These achievements recognize our ability to provide the appropriate care as soon as possible to minimize any residual adverse impact for our patients.”

Baptist Health Paducah will host its sixth Spokes for Spokes bike tour on Saturday, June 3, to raise stroke awareness, along with funds for life-saving technologies and expanded stroke care services. 

The bike ride will begin at 7 a.m. with registration at Baptist Health Imaging Center on the west end of campus at 2705 Kentucky Ave., followed by the tour at 8 a.m. Registration at active.com is $25 for an individual, $40 for couples and $50 for a family for four. For more information, phone 270.575.2851.