Grady recognized for stroke care
Grady Health System has received the American Stroke Association's Get With The GuidelinesSM–Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Award.
The award recognizes Grady's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care for at least 24 months according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. Grady is situated in the heart of the stroke belt – an area in the southeastern United States that sees more strokes and stroke-related deaths than other parts of the country.
"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the GWTG–Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Award addresses the important element of time," said Dr. Michael Frankel, Grady's Chief of Neurology and the director of the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center at Grady. "Grady Health System has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. This includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate."
Bernie Marcus, a co-founder of Home Depot and the force behind the Georgia Aquarium, recently committed $20 million of his financial might to expand Grady's trauma center and stroke care. The gift, expected to be announced today, will expand the hospital's trauma center to six bays from four and create a 20-bed intensive care unit for the victims of strokes and brain injuries.