LEBANON, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – A New Hampshire hospital has been recognized on a national scale for its work caring for stroke patients.

According to a news release from Dartmouth Health (DH), Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award.

The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, that the release says ultimately leads to more lives saved, and reduced disability.

“DHMC is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Timothy G. Lukovits, MD, Medical Director of the Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke Program at DHMC. “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 program helps ensure that patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines and is meant to improve stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to those guidelines to minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and prevent death.

“The end goal is to ensure more people in New Hampshire and Vermont can experience longer, healthier lives,” Lukovits said.

Each year, DHMC and other program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating their commitment to providing quality care for stroke patients and educating patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize DHMC for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, 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 healthcare systems, families and communities.”

DHMC also received the association’s Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll award, for meeting specific criteria to reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts, according to the release from DH. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and brain cells begin to die.

Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Early detection and treatment can help to improve survival, minimize disability, and accelerate recovery time.