Nazareth Hospital Receives #1 Stroke Care Rating for Three Consecutive Years; Top-rated Hospital in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Stroke Outcomes

Business Wire, Oct 13, 2004

PHILADELPHIA -- For the third year in a row, HealthGrades has awarded Nazareth Hospital its highest award for stroke care services in the state of Pennsylvania. HealthGrades, the nation's leading healthcare quality company, has also identified Nazareth Hospital as one of the top rated hospitals nationally for quality outcomes in stroke services.

"Our focus at Nazareth Hospital is delivering extraordinary care through our extraordinary people to the residents of our community," stated Patricia DeAngelis, President and CEO of Nazareth Hospital. "I am so proud that our efforts continue to result in such a remarkable accomplishment, and we look forward to providing the best stroke care for years to come."

As part of its seventh annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, HealthGrades independently analyzed nearly 5,000 hospitals in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia for its ratings, objectively assessing their clinical outcomes and quality. HealthGrades reviews this information using data taken from Medicare files provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The ratings take into account patient characteristics, such as age, gender and pre-existing medical conditions in order to make accurate and fair comparisons between hospitals. HealthGrades then analyzes whether patient outcomes for each of more than two dozen procedures and diagnoses are better than expected (five-star), as expected (three-star) or worse than expected (one-star). HealthGrades publishes these ratings based on the clinical performance of that hospital. For the third year running, Nazareth Hospital earned a five-star rating, the highest possible for the treatment of stroke care.

"Our focus on educating the community regarding stroke warning signs and the community response have both been very important in achieving our goal of providing the best stroke care in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Patrick Waters, DO, Head of Nazareth Hospital's Stroke Program. "The strength of our stroke program is a reflection of Nazareth Hospital's continuing commitment to the community."

In January of 2005, Nazareth Hospital plans to unveil a neuroscience unit that will include 20 private rooms dedicated to the care and treatment of stroke patients. Care will consist a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and rehabilitation, patient educational programs on stroke treatment and recovery, and specialized nursing staff.

Stroke education and risk assessment activities are a critical part of the hospital's program. With the first three hours following a stroke as the most critical, risk factors, warning signs and response time are key in stroke treatment and rehabilitation. Learn to recognize these warning signs of stroke:

--Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or legs especially on one side of the body.

--Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

--Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

--Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

--Sudden severe headaches with no known cause.

As part of its ongoing effort to educate the community, Nazareth Hospital regularly schedules stroke screenings. Upcoming screenings in the Philadelphia area include October 23rd at St. Anselm's Parish from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and November 5th at Nazareth Hospital from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Founded by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Nazareth Hospital has provided health care to the Northeast Philadelphia community since 1940. The Hospital has 225 acute and 28 skilled care beds, and offers a full array of health care services -- emergency services, surgery, vascular services, cardiac care, award winning orthopaedic and rehabilitation services, cancer care, women's health, and home health services. Nazareth Hospital is an affiliate of the Mercy Health System, and Catholic Health East, which includes more than 35 hospitals and 28 long-term care facilities in 10 states. For more information about Nazareth Hospital, please log onto www.NazarethHospital.org.