Fox Cities News

ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah and ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton have received national recognition for their stroke care, earning gold and silver awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program. The health system’s rural hospitals were also recognized for their expertise in treating strokes.

These awards reflect adherence to nationally recognized guidelines intended to improve patient outcomes by providing evidence-based treatment for stroke patients. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes recognition focuses on ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes receive up-to-date care during hospitalization for stroke, as this group is at higher risk of complications.

“These accolades highlight our team’s strong commitment to providing the highest quality stroke care for our patients and their families,” said Dr. Michael Hooker, ThedaCare Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Acute Care. “When someone is experiencing a stroke, every second counts. The Get With the Guidelines program ensures we deliver timely, top-quality care to our communities, helping patients return to their best lives as quickly as possible.”

ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah received a Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton earned a Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

Other facilities in the ThedaCare system also received various levels of recognition:

- ThedaCare Medical Center-Berlin achieved both Rural Stroke Silver and Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

- ThedaCare Medical Center-New London was awarded Rural Stroke Gold and Stroke Silver Plus.

- ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano earned Rural Stroke Bronze and Stroke Silver with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

- ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca received Rural Stroke Silver and Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

- ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose was recognized with Rural Stroke Bronze.

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. There are two main types of strokes—ischemic, which occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot, and hemorrhagic, which involve bleeding in or around the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel.

The Get With The Guidelines program supports hospitals across the country by promoting consistent use of evidence-based protocols designed to reduce long-term effects from strokes or prevent fatalities. Hospitals qualify annually for these recognitions by demonstrating their commitment to following these treatment guidelines and educating patients about managing their recovery at home.

For those experiencing symptoms of a stroke, immediate medical attention is critical; experts advise calling 911 right away.