CHRISTUS Health receives national award for comprehensive stroke care

CHRISTUS Health has earned national recognition from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care in Southeast Texas.

The Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke achievement award recognizes hospitals consistently following the latest evidence-based guidelines to improve patient outcomes.

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

"This recognition reflects the dedication of our clinical teams to deliver fast, evidence-based stroke care every day," said Misty Dantin, clinical director of emergency services at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – Jasper Memorial. "When someone is having a stroke, every minute matters, and we're committed to providing the right treatment as quickly as possible."

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke, and roughly 610,000 of these are first or new strokes, 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 blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen. Rapid treatment can reduce brain damage and significantly improve recovery.

“Every minute counts in stroke care,” said Cord Tucker, stroke program manager for CHRISTUS Southeast Texas – St. Elizabeth. “The national benchmark is to begin treatment within 45 minutes of arrival, but our team consistently averages about 37 minutes, and recently achieved a door‑to‑needle time of just 14 minutes. Rapid intervention is essential for preserving brain function, reducing disability and giving patients the best chance at recovery.”

To receive the designation, both hospitals demonstrated excellence in rapid stroke treatment, adherence to national quality measures and ongoing patient education.

CHRISTUS Health encourages the community to recognize stroke symptoms using 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.