Courtesy Image
Christus Southeast Texas Health System has been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for delivering high-quality stroke care, hospital officials announced.
The national award, Get With The Guidelines – Stroke, honors hospitals that “demonstrate excellence in stroke care.” The recognition highlights health care facilities that follow the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines and deliver rapid, effective treatment to support faster recovery.
Christus Southeast Texas–Jasper Memorial received Silver and Silver Plus awards, while Christus Southeast Texas–St. Elizabeth earned the Gold Plus designation.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Desiree Fairley, stroke coordinator for ChristusSoutheast Texas – Jasper Memorial. “Our goal is to ensure every stroke patient receives the most effective treatment as quickly as possible. The award validates our commitment to that mission.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, and about every three minutes someone dies from one. Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, cutting off the blood supply to brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die due to lack of oxygen.
“There are millions of brain cells lost every minute the brain is deprived of oxygen,” Fairley said. “The national benchmark for stroke treatment is 60 minutes, but our team consistently delivers care in just 41 minutes from arrival.”
The stroke specialist emphasized that rapid response is critical to minimize long-term effects and save lives.
Both Christus Southeast Texas hospitals underwent an evaluation process to receive this designation, critiqued on excellence in timely stroke intervention, adherence to national treatment guidelines, and patient education to support recovery and long-term health.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our teams recognized for the high-quality care we deliver,” said Cord Tucker, stroke coordinator for Christus Southeast Texas–St. Elizabeth. “This award highlights our commitment to acting quickly, following evidence-based guidelines, and doing everything we can to support the best possible outcomes for our patients.”
Tucker also stressed the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms, which can happen to anyone. The easiest way to identify a stroke is 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 the 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 speech slurred or strange?
T – Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is critical.
