LOS ANGELES, June 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- White Memorial Medical Center has been named a recipient of the 2015 Women’s Choice Award in Stroke Care – placing WMMC among America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Stroke Care. This award is the only evidence-based designation that identifies the country’s best hospitals on criteria that considers patient satisfaction, clinical excellence and what women really want – quality care.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of adult disability. Every 40 seconds, someone will suffer a stroke, resulting in more than 795,000 annually affected, with more than 137,000 deaths. According to the AHA, 1 in 3 will women die of heart disease and stroke.
“We are honored to earn the top Women’s Choice Award for Stroke Care,” says John Raffoul, president and CEO, WMMC. Our continuous commitment to providing our community the highest quality care is centered on improving the health and well-being of everyone we serve. It’s the corner stone of our mission.”
Hospitals earning the Stroke Care Award must be accredited by the Joint Commission/ASA as an Advanced Primary Care Stroke Center or an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. In addition, publicly available data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and patient recommendation ratings data were included, when assessing each hospital’s clinical performance.
“Surprisingly, people still consider stroke an old person’s disease,” said Antonio Liu, MD, Medical Director of the Stroke Center, WMMC. In reality, stroke can affect anyone at any age. The earlier you begin to make healthy lifestyle choices, the more likely you’ll be able to avoid a stroke in the future as well as other related issues – such as a heart attack. Stroke really is something we should all be thinking about. Time is brain”
“We congratulate these hospitals and their dedication to education, prevention, and early intervention to reduce the devastating effects of stroke,” said Sharyn S. Lee, RN, MS, FACEHP, President of the Women’s Choice Award Healthcare Division.
The Women’s Choice Award Seal is the only declaration that integrates clinical excellence (CMS) and consumer experience to provide women, the family’s Chief Health Officers, the ability to make the best healthcare decisions for their families.
“The women in Los Angeles are extremely fortunate to have access to one of the best Stroke Centers in America. Through our joint efforts with White Memorial will empower a woman to make the best healthcare choices for her and her family,” said Delia Passi, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Choice Award.
Year after year, the Women’s Choice Award is the only credential that identifies the nation’s best healthcare institutions by measuring against the needs and preferences of women, when it comes to treatment and a quality hospital experience. This credential signifies WMMC’s commitment and passion towards an extraordinary healthcare experience for women and all patients.
White Memorial Medical Center is a unique community-based teaching hospital serving East and South Los Angeles. The non-profit, 353-bed hospital is committed to improving the health of the community by providing high quality and comprehensive care with inpatient and outpatient services. White Memorial was established in 1913, and today is regionally recognized for state-of-the-art technology and specialty care services provided by some of the best physicians in Los Angeles whose credentials include pioneering research, ivy-league education, and a commitment to compassionate and culturally-competent care. For more information, visit www.adventisthealth.org/white-memorial
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD®
The Women’s Choice Award® sets the standard for helping women make smart choices through education, empowerment, and validation. Awards are determined by evidence-based research and identify the brands, products and services most recommended and trusted by women. Visit www.WomensChoiceAward.com to learn more.