Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.

VALENCIA, CA— For the tenth year in a row, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke 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 fifth leading 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 American 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.

“Henry Mayo is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Evelyn Ku, RN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. “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 the Santa Clarita Valley can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “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.”

Henry Mayo also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Meet Melody Halio, Nurse Navigator | Stroke & Diabetes Programs

Q: For someone who doesn’t work in a Hospital, can you describe what you do?

A: I work with the frontline nursing staff, management, and physicians to ensure that patients with stroke and/or diabetes diagnosis get the best care possible based on the most recent scientific evidence based guidelines. I help guide the care from the ER all the way to discharge for the stroke patients, and make sure they are receiving the medications, education and services that will give them the best chance at a great outcome. Other things I do include teaching the nurses annual stroke classes, going out into community to teach about Stroke Prevention and Awareness, and I facilitate the monthly Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group.

Q: Why is it important that Henry Mayo has a Stroke Program?

A: The stroke program means that we are given very strict instructions on how to care for stroke patients. It provides guidelines that we must adhere to, and a certifying body comes and checks how we are following those guidelines and caring for the patients every 2 years. That means that the patients can be confident when they come to our hospital that they will get the best quality stroke care and have the highest chance of recovery.

Q: Can you describe what the Stroke Award we received means to hospital? How does that impact the level of care we provide?

A: The Stroke Award speaks to the hospitals capability in performing certain necessary interventions on stroke patients. The award captures compliance with 10 specific measures that are very important to meet on every stroke patient, every time. Our hospital performs well above the goal and above the national average in all 10 measures. Again, this speaks to the hospitals ability to provide the highest-level of patient care to the stroke patients on a consistent basis, therefore increasing the patients chance of having the best possible outcomes and preventing a secondary stroke event.

Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

A: Seeing people with devastating strokes get better and gain back independence and quality of life.