The Neuroscience Center at Brandon Regional Hospital was recently the proud recipient of the prestigious 2008 Bronze Stroke Award. Light refreshment welcomed the staff and the public at the hospital’s “A” tower front lobby and reception area as representatives from the American Heart and the America Stroke Association presented the award to members of the center’s staff for their recent outstanding accomplishment, high level of performance and patient care. BRH Neuroscience director Melissa Cole was pleased with the recognition which was appropriately called the “Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Bronze Performance Achievement Award,” meaning that the center has reached the bench mark of 85 percent of 7 levels of quality measures on all stroke patients for 90 consecutive days. “Our motto is ‘Every patient every time,” said Cole. According to Cole, receiving the award, of course, only means that the center is that much closer to the silver and the gold awards. “We are now focusing on maintaining the level of care and just working on getting better,” Cole said. During the ceremony the public was offered free stroke screenings and could watch demonstrations of the operation of the centers Brain Lab. According to a brochure published by HCA West Florida, with 750,000 new stroke cases reported each year in the United States, and stroke being the third leading cause of death as well as the number one cause of disability, the mission of BRH’s Neuroscience Center is to provide support and education to both the patients and their families. Newly added to the hospital staff is the center’s stroke coordinator Cathy Harrison who according to Cole makes rounds on all the patients while also handles in-services to train staff as well as patients and is also involved with community education on subjects such as how to recognize and to prevent a stroke, along with the importance of getting help quickly and on time. Treatments at the center includes brain tumors, carotid stenosis, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, multiple sclerosis, nerve disorders, spinal disorders, spinal tumors and, of course, stroke. For more information about the Brandon Regional Hospital Neuroscience Center please visit www.myBRH.com.
