CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System receives national award for comprehensive stroke care

CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System is nationally recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for delivering high-quality stroke care.

The national award, Get With The Guidelines – Stroke, is given to hospitals that have demonstrated excellence in stroke care. The recognition was created to highlight the health care facilities providing the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines and quick recovery times.

• CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial was awarded silver and silver plus
• CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth received gold plus

“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Desiree Fairley, stroke coordinator for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial. “Our goal is to ensure every stroke patient receives the most effective treatment as quickly as possible. This award validates our commitment to that mission.”

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and about every three minutes someone dies from one, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, cutting off the supply to brain tissue. When this happens, parts of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen needed, causing brain cells to die.

“There are millions of brain cells lost every minute the brain is deprived of oxygen,” Fairley said. “The national benchmark for stroke treatment is 60 minutes, but our team consistently delivers care in just 41 minutes from arrival.”

She said being able to react as quickly as possible to a stroke is crucial to help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Both CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System hospitals underwent a rigorous evaluation process to receive this designation. They demonstrated excellence in timely stroke intervention, adherence to national treatment guidelines and providing patients with education to support recovery and long-term health.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our teams recognized for the high-quality care we deliver,” said Cord Tucker, stroke coordinator for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth. “This award highlights our commitment to acting quickly, following evidence-based guidelines and doing everything we can to support the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

He said strokes can happen to anyone and knowing the signs and symptoms is crucial. The easiest way to recognize stroke symptoms is the acronym BE FAST:

B: Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
E: Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A: Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is very important.

“This recognition is a testament to the incredible work happening in our hospitals every day,” said Paul Trevino, CEO for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System. “We are deeply committed to delivering exceptional care and ensuring patients and their families feel confident in the quality of treatment they receive when they choose CHRISTUS Health.”