People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality — a gap that has grown over the past two decades. Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital is  committed to changing that.
For efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural health care outcome disparities, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze award.
“We are proud that our team is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of patients affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Lynn Mergen, CEO, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. “Rural communities deserve high quality stroke care. I'm proud of our team for their commitment to stroke care excellence and this achievement.”
"Time is of the essence if you believe someone is having a stroke," explained board certified neurologist Kevin McGeehan, DO, medical director of the Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital stroke program. "The treatments that are available are very time-sensitive. Call 911 immediately and tell them you need to go to the emergency room because you think you are having a stroke."
The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward acute stroke care excellence demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.