Hospital Receives Fourth Consecutive Get With the Guidelines Stroke GoldPlus Award
Author: Sherry Farney
McLaren Flint, part of McLaren Health Care and its statewide McLaren Stroke Network, has earned the Get With The Guidelines® Stroke GOLD PLUS distinction from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, an acknowledgement of its proficiency in its care for stroke patients by consistently achieving national quality measurements. This is the fourth consecutive year the program has earned this distinction.
Additionally, McLaren Flint was listed on the AHA/ASA’s Honor Roll Elite for its prompt use of alteplase, a medication to dissolve stroke-causing blood clots, its Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, which recognizes the program for providing the latest evidence-based care to diabetic stroke patients, and its Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy, recognizing the program for its timeliness in which the stroke-causing blood clot is removed from eligible patients via an interventional procedure.
“As the region’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center, and a hub for advanced stroke treatment for the McLaren Stroke Network, McLaren Flint is committed to continuing its dedication to improving outcomes for stroke patients,” said Chris Candela, President and CEO of McLaren Flint. “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. The end goal is to ensure more people in Genesee County and beyond, can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Distinction levels are determined based on programs’ compliance with the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment guidelines set by the AHA/ASA to improve the care and clinical outcomes of stroke patients. The GOLD PLUS level — the highest achievable level — is earned by complying with these guidelines for 24 or more consecutive months.
Part of the McLaren Stroke Network, McLaren Flint has routinely earned national recognition for its care, treatment, quality, and outcomes.
“We are fortunate to have the expertise and knowledge of many skilled clinical professionals, which directly results in a higher level of care for our patients and best possible outcomes,” said Dr. Aniel Majjhoo, an interventional neurologist and medical director of the McLaren Stroke Network. “Adhering to the established guidelines puts our patients and providers in a position for success, and ultimately more treated patients being safely discharged home.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. Certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, McLaren Flint’s unique program approach allows for 24/7 initial evaluations by an interventional neurologist for all suspected stroke patients and 24/7 neuro intensive care coverage.
To learn more about the stroke program at McLaren Flint, visit mclaren.org/flintstroke.
About McLaren Flint
McLaren Flint is a 378-bed tertiary teaching hospital located in Flint, Michigan, offering a full range of comprehensive and advanced services for residents in greater Genesee County. McLaren Flint is affiliated with Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine in its medical residency programs, including family practice, internal medicine, general surgery, and orthopedic surgery. McLaren Flint also maintains Fellowship programs in vascular surgery, health psychology, cardiology, and pulmonary and critical care in partnership with MSU. McLaren Flint is certified as a BCBSM Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery, Spine, and Maternity Care and has earned the Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Designation by the Joint Commission and 2023 Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award for Stroke Care from the American Heart Association. McLaren Flint is further designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology and holds Laboratory Accreditation from the American College of Pathologists. The Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint is accredited by the American College of Radiology Radiation Oncology Practice and Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium (MROQC) 2021 Gold. Learn more at mclaren.org/flint.
About McLaren Health Care
McLaren Health Care, headquartered in Grand Blanc, Michigan, is a $6.6 billion, fully integrated health care delivery system committed to quality, evidence-based patient care and cost efficiency. The McLaren system includes 13 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 490-member employed primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs covering more than 732,838 lives in Michigan and Indiana, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. McLaren operates Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers and providers, anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 53 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. McLaren has 28,000 full-, part-time and contracted employees and more than 113,000 network providers throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Learn more at mclaren.org.