Good Samaritan Hospital wins gold

Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, a member of MedStar health, has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers.

“We’re proud to say that our stroke care program follows natural standards and guidelines that can improve outcomes for stroke patients,” said Dr. Martin Binstock, vice president of medical affairs.

According to Good Samaritan, each year about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted and cells begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients necessary to function. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 minutes and someone dies of a stroke every three minutes.

“At Good Samaritan, patients can rely on our multidisciplinary stroke team of physicians, nurses and therapists to provide the most effective on-going coordinated care,” said David Weisman, director of the stroke center. “We’re fully equipped and trained from the time a stroke strikes, through rehabilitation.”

Good Samaritan has a dedicated stroke unit and nationally accredited rehabilitation unit that has been certified in stroke care. The hospital’s emergency department can provide a quick response through its Brain Attack Team (BAT) and provide care to stroke patients.