Lafayette General Receives the 2017 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers

Lafayette General Medical Center (LGMC) has been named one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by Women’s Choice Award®, America’s trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. This evidence-based designation is the only Stroke Center award that identifies the country’s best healthcare institutions based on robust criteria that considers female patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60 percent of stroke related deaths are women, and stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Most alarming, the percentage of strokes in women under age 45 is increasing, with studies showing these women are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

“May is Stroke Awareness Month,” says Patrick W. Gandy, Jr., CEO at LGMC. “It is fitting that the announcement of this award gives us the opportunity to stress how important it is for everyone to know their stroke risk factors.”

The five most basic, and treatable, risk factors for stroke are:

• High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for stroke because it is the No. 1 cause of stroke.
• Know your blood pressure and have it checked regularly. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80. If it’s consistently above 140/90, it’s too high and you need to speak with your doctor about how to better manage it
• Tobacco use damages blood vessels, leading to blockage and causing a stroke. Quit today
• Diabetes increases your risk of stroke, so keeping your blood sugar under control is very important
• High cholesterol increases the risk of blocked arteries, which can lead to a stroke
• Obesity and being physically inactive can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease

LGMC is one of 339 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for stroke care in the U.S. by the Women’s Choice Award.

A stroke center must be certified by the Joint Commission Stroke Certification Program as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and/or Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center to be considered for the award.

LGMC is an Advance Comprehensive Stoke Center, and was evaluated based on it’s 30-day stroke mortality and readmission rates and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. LGMC was required to also score in the top 80% of all hospitals in the following areas:

• Percent of patients receiving Head CT scan results within 45 minutes
• Percent of patients receiving Thrombolytic therapy
• Percent of patients receiving Stroke education

“Timely diagnosis and effective care are critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery,” said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award. “Our award educates women about where they—and their loved ones—have the best chance to return to a full life following a stroke.”

For more information on the 2017 America’s Best Stroke Centers, please visit womenschoiceaward.com.