Frederick Health Named #1 Stroke Care Provider in Maryland

Our community deserves quality stroke care. Frederick Health was recently named #1 in Maryland for stroke care by Healthgrades America. Patient outcomes and experiences, along with specific healthcare and treatment data, are among the factors considered for being ranked.

“This is a huge honor for Frederick Health,” says April Fogle, Stroke Program Coordinator with Frederick Health. “There are a lot of quality hospitals in the state of Maryland, so to be given this recognition by Healthgrades America is a testament to the hard work of our team and a clear indication to residents of Frederick County that they have the best care right here in their community.”

Healthgrades, which reviews performance metrics and patient data for hospitals across the country, has also presented Frederick Health with numerous other awards, including being named one of Healthgrades’s 100 Best Hospitals in the Nation.

In addition to being named #1 for stroke care in the state, Frederick Health recently received two nationally recognized awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Both awards recognize Frederick Health’s work in reducing system barriers to prompt, quick, and reliable treatment for victims of a stroke.

One of these awards, “Get with The Guidelines®–Stroke,” was developed to assist healthcare professionals to provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and speeding up recovery. Frederick Health met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients.

“We are so pleased to be recognized for our dedication to helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival after a stroke,” says Fogle.

As with other life-threatening health issues, such as a heart attack, seconds count when diagnosing and treating stroke patients. It’s estimated that every second an individual experiences a stroke, they lose roughly 32,000 neurons. That number increases to 1.9 million neurons lost for every minute. These long-term effects on your brain can be fatal. Remember BE FAST to spot the signs of a stroke:

• Balance lost
• Eyesight changes
• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call 911

Fogle expressed the importance of quick action: “Our aim is to make it easier for our teams and the general public to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis to improve outcomes for stroke patients,” she says.

There are certain factors, such as genetics, age, family history, and race that can play a factor in the likelihood of having a stroke. Despite these, strokes remain a serious threat for Americans. Someone in the United States suffers from a stroke every 40 seconds and, unfortunately, someone dies from a stroke every four minutes. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death nationally and the third leading cause of death for Marylanders. Additionally, strokes are the third leading cause of death for residents of Frederick County.

While these numbers are daunting, there are several steps you can take to help limit your stroke risk Experts say that healthier diets, not smoking, and watching your blood sugar and cholesterol are key steps in reducing your risk of stroke.

To help reduce stroke deaths in Frederick County, Frederick Health partnered with County Executive Jan Gardner and the non-profit Stroke Smart organization to have Frederick County named as the first Stroke Smart County in the United States. This effort results in additional training for first responders, medical professionals, and county staff on how to recognize and respond to strokes.

“What’s really important is that people know we are here for them,” says Fogle. “And that Frederick Health really does offer the best stroke care available.”

You and your family deserve the very best when it comes to stroke care. It all starts with nationally recognized care—and it starts now at Frederick Health. Visit our website to learn more.