Value Health Partners Receives Award from National Stroke Association

Spectrum Health Part of Group Receiving Recognition for Stroke Awareness Efforts

Value Health Partners, a group of eight Michigan health care organizations including Spectrum Health, announced that it has received national recognition for innovative stroke awareness efforts throughout Michigan.

National Stroke Association honored winners in six categories for the First Annual Raising Awareness In Stroke Excellence (RAISE) Awards on Friday, October 28, 2011, at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, CO. National Stroke Association launched the RAISE Awards in 2011 to establish a national award program that recognizes individuals and groups in multiple categories for taking stroke awareness activities to new heights.

Value Health Partners (VHP) received the award for ‘Most Creative’ approach to stroke awareness. In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month in May, VHP engaged high school students in a Stroke Prevention Student Video Competition to create 30-second public service videos that captured the FAST message to help the public easily recall stroke symptoms.

Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms -Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

The competition was open to high school students in the areas served by VHP member organizations. Members of VHP are Allegiance Health (Jackson); Bronson Healthcare Group (Kalamazoo); Covenant HealthCare (Saginaw); Lakeland HealthCare (St. Joseph); Munson Healthcare (Traverse City); Sparrow Health System (Lansing); Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids).

Approximately 8,000 patients in the areas served by VHP member health care organizations suffer from a stroke each year. VHP has focused on stroke prevention through a three-prong strategy that encompasses community awareness, EMS standards of practice and emergency department process improvements. These three strategies are aimed to improve stroke survival by reducing the amount of time before care is provided at an emergency department.

National Stroke Association recognized the video project because of the use of current technology and intergenerational communication about stroke to create public service announcements. In developing videos, students engaged parents and grandparents in discussion about stroke. Winning videos were promoted on the VHP website, school websites and through media coverage. VHP hospitals are monitoring patient activity related to stroke in their emergency departments to help measure outcomes. View the winning videos at www.youtube.com/user/valuehealthpartners.

Other 2011 winners include Henry Winkler (Best Media Spokesperson; “Open Arms: Raising Awareness of Upper Limb Spasticity”); Susan Lucci (Best Media Spokesperson; “Facing AFib, Get Serious About Stroke”; University of Mississippi Health Care Multidisciplinary Stroke Team (Outstanding Group); Tom Watson (Outstanding Individual); The Aphasia Literacy Group (Most Impactful).

“By supporting the many stroke champions already raising awareness across the country in unique and effective ways, the RAISE Awards will establish a devoted and organized community engaged for the long term,” said Jim Baranski, CEO of National Stroke Association.

“Most people in the United States—even stroke survivors—are unable to identify stroke risk factors or stroke warning signs. This is alarming because stroke is already a leading cause of death and we know incidence will likely rise. The boomers are aging and a recent study shows increased incidence among children and young adults. It’s possible that by adopting better lifestyle habits, we could impact so many. But it has to happen at the local level and that’s why this program is important, because we recognize and honor those already engaged at that level. They will be the inspiration for others. There is no doubt that raising stroke awareness is one of the most important ways to make an impact on stroke no matter the reach or type of effort being made.”

About National Stroke Association
National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke through education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. Its mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke.

About Value Health Partners
Seven Michigan health care systems joined to create greater value for their patients and communities by forming Value Health Partners. The organization’s focus involves maximizing value through clinical quality and best practices; community health improvement programs to address health disparities for at-risk populations; and advocacy to represent a variety of Michigan communities on policy issues.