Clear Lake Regional Medical Center’ s Comprehensive Neuroscience Program Receives Special Award
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center was presented with the Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award
In a room full of first responders, medical staff and personnel, and key dignitaries, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center’ s( CLRMC) Comprehensive Neuroscience Program was presented with the Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award presentation was part of a ribbon cutting ceremony held Monday, October 16 at 11 a. m. at 500 Medical Center Boulevard in Webster, Texas.
The event was celebrating receiving the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’ s Get With The Guidelines ®- Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the high standards being met by the center’ s comprehensive stroke program.
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center recently was named as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the DNV. The DNV’ s Certification of Distinction for Comprehensive Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Achievement of certification signifies hospital services provided have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to the community that the quality care CLRMC provides is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients. Clear Lake Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Southeast Houston and surrounding area with this designation.
Allison Capetillo, director of quality and systems improvement for the American Heart Association, presented CLRMC Chief Executive Officer Todd Caliva with the special award.“ Receiving the Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award and being recognized by the DNV as a Comprehensive Stroke Center is such an honor,” says Caliva.“ It proves that our hospital not only includes the best neurologists and neurosurgeons in Houston, but also critical care intensivists, nurse practitioners and rehabilitation therapists. With the addition of an endovascular neurosurgeon, we
deliver innovative, minimally-invasive brain, back and spine care.”
Former CLRMC patient Mrs. Fe Mari“ Maite” Evangelista spoke at the ribbon cutting telling her story of how she survived a stroke and the kind of care she received while at CLRMC.“ I suffered a stroke last year in February,” says Evangelista.“ I was getting my kids ready for school and myself ready for work. I felt my right arm go numb.” Because Evangelista had healthcare training as a chiropractor she quickly assumed she was having a stroke. Before she could get to the phone to call 9-1-1, her legs gave out. She called for her 10-year-old daughter, Mia, to come help. Mia began screaming and crying. Evangelista calmly told Mia she needed her to be strong; that she was probably having a stroke; and to call 9-1-1.
While in the ambulance, the first responders asked Evangelista where she wanted to go. She replied,“ Where would you go if you were having a stroke?” The first responders shared that CLRMC opened a newly renovated, dedicated stroke unit so she agreed CLRMC was the best choice.
Evangelista is so glad she came to a comprehensive stroke designated facility, CLRMC. Her condition was so severe she spent five days in ICU with a total of 43 days in the hospital. Evangelista is now able to drive and take care of herself – something that was uncertain at one time.
31 MOMENTUM / November 2017