Shands at UF named Comprehensive Stroke Center

Published: Monday, Sept. 28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Agency for Health Care Administration has designated Shands at the University of Florida as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Shands at UF is now one of only 16 AHCA-designated stroke centers in the state and the only one in north central Florida.

Comprehensive Stroke Center designation identifies Shands at UF as a hospital actively participating in the full spectrum of state-of-the-art stroke care and research. It encompasses not only leading-edge technologies and therapeutics for acute stroke patients, but also system-wide initiatives on stroke prevention, rehabilitation, education, community awareness and clinical and basic science research.

“The designation provides validation that we are approaching stroke care in accordance to nationally recognized goals known to improve stroke outcomes,” said Michael Waters, M.D., Ph.D., UF College of Medicine neurologist and Shands at UF Stroke Program director. “The processes in place are the true measure of a program and are made possible by individuals along the entire stroke care continuum starting with emergency medical services in the field; emergency department physicians and staff; neuroradiology; neurosurgery; neurology; and neurorehabilitation.”

For patients, the Comprehensive Stroke Center title supports the promise of quality care they will receive at Shands at UF.

“This designation is an assurance that our patients will receive state-of-the-art therapy,” said Justine Abram, B.S.N., R.N., C.N.R.N., Shands at UF Stroke Program coordinator. “Our facility complies with the highest standards in clinical practice guidelines and improvement strategies. We are proud of our stroke program and meet the Joint Commission standards of stroke care and in most cases far exceed them. I’m proud to be affiliated with all of the dedicated folks on the team, and what makes me most proud is our collaboration of disciplines all working together to ensure better outcomes for our patients.”

AHCA Comprehensive Stroke Center designation lasts for two years.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and each year approximately 700,000 people nationwide experience a new or recurrent stroke. Statistics show that someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies from a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States and nearly 5.4 million stroke survivors are alive today.

For more information about stroke, please visit strokeassociation.org.