Aspirus Merrill Hospital earns national recognition for stroke care

BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

Aspirus Merrill Hospital received a Stroke Silver Plus award and a Rural Stroke Silver award in July from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke program, national recognition for hospitals that deliver timely, evidence-based stroke care.
The local hospital was one of 17 Aspirus Health hospitals across Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota to earn a Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke award this summer, according to a news release from Aspirus Health.
For Merrill-area residents, the recognition means the emergency department closest to home meets the same national quality benchmarks as Aspirus’ larger hospitals. Lisa Ebert, Aspirus System Stroke Coordinator, said every Aspirus hospital honored this summer, including rural facilities like Merrill’s, provides the same high standard of initial stroke care: rapid evaluation, CT imaging, and access to teleneurology that lets a neurologist evaluate a patient within minutes.

“Providing exceptional stroke care takes coordination, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to quality,” Ebert said. “These awards recognize the dedication of our physicians, nurses, emergency teams, therapists, and countless other caregivers who work together to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care when they need it most.”
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States, and Ebert said every minute matters. For every minute a large blood vessel stroke goes untreated, the brain loses an estimated 1.9 million neurons, she said, which is why she urges anyone with stroke symptoms to call 911 rather than drive to the hospital. Calling 911 lets emergency responders alert the hospital ahead of time so stroke teams and imaging services are ready when the patient arrives.
Ebert also encouraged residents to learn the warning signs of stroke using the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T.: Balance changes, Eyes or sudden vision loss, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911.
Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke, run by the American Heart Association, recognizes hospitals that show a sustained commitment to evidence-based stroke care through ongoing quality improvement.
More information on stroke care at Aspirus, including symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options, is available at aspirus.org/stroke-care.