Houston VA receives Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from DNV
PRESS RELEASE
April 16, 2024
Houston , TX — The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center recently became the first VA in the nation to receive certification from DNV as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, reflecting the highest level of competence for the treatment of serious stroke events.
“With stroke care, you must have the best clinicians and resources, but also the ability to act organizationally with extreme efficiency because of the time-critical nature of these events,” said Dr. Pitchaiah Mandava MD PhD, Chief of Neurology at the Houston VA. “This certification from DNV validates all the effort we have put into this program and to ensuring the health and safety of our Veterans. We are the first VA Hospital to be so certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and our hospital is a model in stroke carto other VA facilities. ”
The DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that the Houston VA addresses the full spectrum of stroke care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education – and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes. Comprehensive stroke centers are typically the largest and best-equipped hospitals and can treat patients with ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The Houston VA team providing stroke care to Veterans consists of ER physicians, Neurologists, Neuro-interventionalists, Endovascular Neurosurgeons, and Intensivists, Mandava said. Excellent nursing care by our Magnet Certified nurses, in addition, to speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services, round out the complete care that Veterans get at our VA, he added.
“Achieving this certification demonstrates our commitment to excellence in caring for Veterans,” said Frank Vazquez, Medical Center Director. “We want our Veterans to know that we are performing at the highest level and acting quickly and professionally to ensure they get the world-class care they deserve.”
According to Mandava, getting medical help quickly via ambulance or air transport is of paramount importance to Veterans who may be having a stroke.
"If a Veteran can get to us quickly enough, we can limit the amount of disability he or she may have from a stroke,” he said. “If they get here very, very quickly, sometimes we can eliminate disability altogether."
Doctors urge that everyone know the saying 'Be Fast' and be on the lookout for sudden signs that could mean a stroke.
- B - balance is off
- E - eyes change and vision issues
- F - face drooping
- A - arm weakness
- S - speech suddenly slurs
- T - time becomes of the utmost importance and act fast by calling 911 or getting to the hospital
