HJAR Nov/Dec 2019

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2019 57 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com management, the delivery of clinical care, and performance improvement, including rapid deliv- ery (less than 60 minutes) of intravenous tPA (clot- buster drug). The survey included onsite observa- tions and interviews with staff. Arkansas has the seventh highest death rate from stroke in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), improving from its number one ranking in 2010. About 20 people suffer from stroke each day in the state. In the U.S., stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult dis- ability nationwide, affecting nearly 800,000 peo- ple annually. “Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Mark Pel- letier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accredi- tation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend these Northwest Health facilities for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.” “We congratulate Northwest Health on this out- standing achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Associa- tion. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.” “When someone suffers a stroke, the time to treatment is of vital importance in giving that per- son the best chance at a full recovery,” said Steve Badger, CEO at Northwest Medical Center-Ben- tonville. “Residents of the communities we serve can be assured that our skilled caregivers are pro- viding a high level of stroke care, as validated by these prestigious national organizations. Helping people know the symptoms – and take fast action – is a key goal.” “Our teams are dedicated to providing high- quality care and are able to treat patients who suf- fer stroke more effectively than ever before,” said Hans Driessnack, CEO at Northwest Medical Cen- ter-Springdale. “Our team has worked extremely hard to ensure that everyone – in any phase of care for stroke patients – is educated, engaged and validated to be delivering evidence-based best practice care. I am proud of the teamwork and dedication shown by our employees and physicians to delivering outstanding patient care throughout this certification process.” Carotid Repair Technique Performed at UAMS is State’s First A vascular surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has performed the state’s first transcarotid artery stenting using flow reversal, a new technique that provides a less inva- sive and potentially safer option to treat plaque buildup in the carotid artery. The carotid artery is the main vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain, neck, and face. Plaque buildup in the carotid artery is a major cause of stroke, and often patients discover the blockage after experiencing stroke-like symptoms or a brief stroke-like episode known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Kyla R. Shelton, MD, performed the procedure. She is an assistant professor of surgery in the Divi- sion of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery in the UAMS College of Medicine. Shelton said transcarotid artery stenting is pref- erable in certain patients to traditional methods for several reasons. One traditional approach is carotid stenting from the femoral artery in the thigh. The surgeon has to thread through a lengthy amount of blood vessels before ever reaching the carotid artery, and once there, has to cross through the area of plaque buildup before deploying a protective device that is shaped like an umbrella prior to stenting the carotid artery. Traveling so far and crossing the plaque creates multiple opportuni- ties for a piece of plaque to come loose and travel to the brain. Another traditional approach includes open sur- gery at the carotid, which is an effective approach but is not right for all patients, Shelton said. “I’m happy to have another option to offer patients who are older or are otherwise not suited for open surgery or transfemoral carotid stenting,” Shelton said. “I think this new technique has the potential to replace some of our older methods in a way that serves patients.” Arkansas Heart Hospital Hosts Heart Summit 2019 Arkansas Heart Hospital hosted Heart Summit 2019, celebrating its 20 th year. “This year our emphasis is on nutrition and lon- gevity” said Dr. Bruce Murphy, chief executive. “The emphasis is not on what to eat but what not to eat. As for longevity, there are secret ingredi- ents to old age. We are having multiple speak- ers on longevity, blue zones, not really wellness but longevity.” Guest speaker was television host, garden designer, conservationist, and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith. Friday night’s keynote speaker was NBA All-Star, former UALR head coach, and Razor- back Sidney Moncrief. Saturday’s guest speakers included Dr. Aubrey deGrey from California, Dr. Rhonda Patrick from Tennessee, and Dr. Branden Rosenhan from Utah. Pulaski County Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit Receives National Accreditation The Pulaski County Regional Crisis Stabilization Unit, staffed by the University of Arkansas for Med- ical Sciences (UAMS), is the state’s first nationally accredited unit and the first UAMS program to be accredited by CARF International. CARF International, formerly the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is an international organization that provides accredi- tation worldwide for behavioral health programs. The Pulaski County unit, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, received notice Aug. 8 that it had received a three-year accred- itation based on a recent survey conducted by CARF officials. The Pulaski County CSU staff includes a multi- disciplinary team of nurses, social workers, pre- scribers and psychiatric technicians. The 16-bed unit has had a total of 500 admissions since open- ing last year. “Obtaining a national accreditation is not only required to maintain our status as an Acute Crisis Unit in the state of Arkansas, it signifies the pro- gram is providing a very high standard of care for our patients,” said Lisa Evans, Ph.D., assistant pro- fessor in the UAMS College of Medicine Depart- ment of Psychiatry and medical director of the Pulaski County unit. “A full three-year accredita- tion indicates the program is compliant with over 1,500 standards related to health and safety, lead- ership, effectiveness, quality of care and excellent