Stroke Center recognized for excellence

UF Health Shands Hospital received the American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus” Performance Achievement Award, presented by Debbie Lombardi-Hill of the American Stroke Association. The award was presented to UF Health vascular neurologist and stroke program director Michael Waters, M.D., Ph.D., and it is the fourth award of its kind that UF Health has received. The Stroke Gold Plus award represents the efforts of UF Health physicians, nurses and staff to improve the quality of life for stroke patients and their commitment to superior clinical outcomes. The award was presented on May 20 during the UF Health Shands Comprehensive Stroke Center Awards Ceremony and Research Symposium.

UF Health also was recognized as a “TARGET Stroke Honor Roll” Stroke Center. This honor recognizes UF Health’s consistent ability to treat patients who have ischemic strokes, caused by clots or blockage in the brain, with clot-busting rt-PA therapy within one hour of arrival; also known as “door-to-needle time.” Time is crucial for the brain health of stroke patients.