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