Inova Fairfax Hospital Earns National Award for Stroke Treatment

Only Virginia Hospital to Earn AHA/ASA’s ‘Gold Plus’ Award

Falls Church, VA- (July 9, 2010) — The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) have awarded Inova Fairfax Hospital the Gold Plus Award for outstanding specialized stroke treatment. The AHA’s “Get with the Guidelines” (GWTG) designation indicates that stroke assessment and services at the hospital provide patients with the best chance of survival.

Hospitals receiving the GWTG Gold Plus Performance Award have achieved a goal of treating stroke patients with 85 percent or higher compliance to core standard levels of care, as outlined by the AHA/ASA, for 24 consecutive months. In addition, Inova Fairfax Hospital demonstrated compliance with four quality measures during the latest 12-month period. Inova Fairfax is the only hospital in the Commonwealth of Virginia to earn this recognition.

“Inova Fairfax Hospital is proud to receive the Gold Plus award for quality stroke treatment from two well-respected national organizations,” said Reuven Pasternak, MD, CEO, Inova Fairfax Hospital. “Our physicians, nurses, clinical staff and other support teams make it possible for us to continually be recognized for providing outstanding care.”

The goal of GWTG is to improve implementation of evidence-based interventions that are proven to reduce complications after stroke, as well as the chances of a subsequent stroke or heart attack. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

For more information about GWTG, visit americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.