Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital Receives National Recognition for its Commitment to Providing High-quality Stroke Care

ZEELAND, Mich., June 20, 2022 – Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s highest possible Get With The Guidelines® achievement for a new program – Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. The award recognizes our commitment and success to ensure that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized research-based guidelines.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“I am very proud of the work that our team has accomplished – from the emergency department to critical care, all team members have helped provide exemplary care to our stroke patients in order to assist us in achieving this goal,” said Linda Schaltz, chief nursing officer, Zeeland Community Hospital. “Earning this recognition less than a year after becoming Primary Stroke Certified is a remarkable achievement and ensures more people in West Michigan can experience longer, healthier lives.”

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Zeeland Community Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Zeeland Community Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke^SM Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Honor Roll awards. To qualify for the Elite Plus recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-busting drug. Target: Type 2 Honor Roll aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Prior to these achievements, Zeeland Community Hospital earned Primary Stroke Certification from The Joint Commission. This distinction recognizes Zeeland Community Hospital as a Primary Stroke Center for their exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care.

About Get With The Guidelines^®

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

Contact:
Alexis Bolo Neal
Senior Communications Specialist
Email: alexis.boloneal@corewellhealth.org