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For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
David Kanihan
612-262-4986
Cell: 612-867-2845

United Hospital certified as Primary Stroke Center

ST. PAUL, Minn. 12/21/2006--The John Nasseff Neuroscience Center at United Hospital has received designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the nation's predominant health care standards setting and accrediting organization. United Hospital’s stroke program provides comprehensive, evidence-based care across the continuum for stroke survivors and their families. Achieving Primary Stroke Center designation is a key element in United Hospital’s pursuit to being recognized as a Neuroscience Center of Excellence.

United Hospital's stroke program includes:

• Emergency care
• neurologist coverage 24 hours per day
• neurosurgery coverage 24 hours per day
• immediate assessment, intervention and management of acute stroke within the Emergency Department
• state-of-the-art neuro-interventional techniques with the ability to administer intravenous (IV) and intra-arterial (IA) t-Pa


• Inpatient care
• designated inpatient unit for stroke care with telemetry monitoring capabilities
• written protocols based on evidence based guidelines
• inpatient nursing staff with special training in stroke care
• multidisciplinary discharge planning


• Inpatient rehabilitation
• dedicated inpatient care by Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute physicians and nurses who specialize in rehabilitation
• individualized treatment plans for stroke survivors and their families
• multidisciplinary teams, including physical and occupational therapists and speech language pathologists, therapeutic recreation and psychology


• Peer visitor program
• outpatient care follow up by interdisciplinary teams
• monthly stroke survivor and family support group


• Patient outcomes and education
• measurement and tracking of stroke patient outcomes with a quality care improvement plan/process in place
• annual stroke education and awareness through Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
• ongoing professional education programs and conferences for health professionals specifically focused on stroke

"The designation of Primary Stroke Center exemplifies United Hospital's commitment in making exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke survivors and their families," said Kelly Gannon, RN, MSN, CNRN, neurology program leader at United Hospital. "Primary Stroke Center certification represents United Hospital's mission to provide safe, high quality care, treatment, services and commitment to providing comprehensive, evidence-based stroke care."

About strokes

According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), someone has a stroke every 45 seconds, and someone dies of stroke every 3.1 minutes in the United States. About 750,000 people will suffer a stroke in the United States this year. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer, and it is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability, accounting for more than half of all patients hospitalized for neurological disease. The ASA also reports that strokes cost about $30 to $40 billion each year in the United States.

Research has shown that the earlier a stroke is diagnosed and treatment begun, the better the functional outcome. Specifically, the National Stroke Association (NSA) reports that "the 'window of opportunity' for interventional treatment of stroke is about six hours." Thus, one of the goals of a Primary Stroke Center is the rapid assessment of stroke symptoms and immediate treatment. According to the ASA , patient care and outcomes are improved at hospitals with the Primary Stroke Center designation compared to hospitals that do not have this designation.

About United Hospital

United Hospital, the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area, is a non-profit hospital providing a full range of health care services to more than 200,000 people each year. United offers a wide range of health services including a birth center, cardiac care in the Nasseff Heart Center, emergency care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences and epilepsy, a pain center, rehabilitation, medical imaging and surgery. More information about the hospital, which is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, can be found on the Internet at www.unitedhospital.com.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, 65 clinics, home care and hospice services, oxygen and equipment, pharmacies, and emergency medical transportation services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.

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