UNC health Lenoir in Kinston, has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus  quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the Number 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 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.

 “UNC Health Lenoir is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment,” states Dawn Becker, RN, BSN, Stroke and Heart Failure Coordinator at UNC Health Lenoir, “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. Our interdisciplinary stroke team takes pride in providing the best possible care for our stroke patients to ensure that they can experience longer, healthier lives.”

 Each year, UNC Health Lenoir qualifies for the award by demonstrating how the organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, UNC Health Lenoir also educates patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

 “We are incredibly pleased to recognize UNC Health Lenoir for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “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.”

 About UNC Health Lenoir

UNC Health Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit organization serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 117-year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, and urology. Surgical specialties include general surgery, vascular, orthopedic, and bariatric with a staff trained to take exceptional care during recovery. UNC Health Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. UNC Health is an integrated health care system based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is comprised of UNC Hospitals and its provider network, UNC Faculty Physicians and UNC Physicians Network.