American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Make Award Presentation
Richmond, Texas…OakBend Medical Center’s annual “Stepping Out Against Stroke 3k” is growing and going strong. This year over 400 people registered to walk the 3K and support the stroke program at OakBend.
The Stroke Walk, held at George Park in Richmond, included breakfast snacks, health screenings for blood pressure and a DJ to entertain the crowd while they visited with the stroke walk sponsors. Many of the sponsors included games for children and adults along with educational materials about their businesses. The crowd began the walk with a series of stretches lead by Reagan Packard and Blake Burlingame from OakBend’s physical therapy department.
For the third year, there were specific stations along the walk geared toward children. At each of the four stations, the children were asked to perform certain tasks such as (F) make a funny face; (A) how many arm hula-hoops can you do; (C) Can you say a tongue twister; (E) how many jumping jacks can you do in 30 seconds?
Throughout the walk signs were strategically placed representing the 4 warning signs of stroke:
FAST:
F – Face Drooping
A – Arm Weakness
S – Speech Difficulty
T – Time to call 9-1-1’
The 2018 sponsors were based on the FAST warning signs:
“F” Face Drooping Sponsors:
AccessHealth
Affiliates in Physical Therapy of OakBend Medical Center
Balance & Neuro Physical Therapy of OakBend Medical Center
Cryer Therapy Services
Hospice Plus
MHC Datacomm
“A” Arm Weakness Sponsors:
Applied HealthCare Nursing Division
Healthsouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital
“S” Speech Difficulty Sponsors:
Dentists of Fort Bend
Omega Home Health Services, Inc.
T.W. Davis Family YMCA
“T” Time to call 9-1-1 Sponsors:
EMR Support Group
Fort Bend Healthcare Center
Hunters Bio Medical
Jeff Oehlke Trucking
Senior Driver Essentials LLC
State Representative John Zerwas, M.D.
Wellness IQ
For the 8th consecutive year, OakBend Medical Center’s Jackson Street campus has been honored with the Gold Plus Performance Award for its “Get With The Guidelines®” program, which promotes consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines for stroke victims. Additionally, this is the first Silver Plus Award for the William’s Way Campus.
According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth largest cause of death, and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. A stroke affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. When a stroke occurs, the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain either become blocked by a clot or by ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs so it and brain cells die.
By participating in the “Get With the Guidelines®” program, OakBend Medical Center is reviewed for twelve consecutive months and must have maintained a performance level of following key measures in treatment guidelines for at least 85% of the time. This year’s award was given at OakBend’s 2017 Stepping Out Against Stroke Walk with Allison Capetillo from the American Heart Association making the presentation.
“A huge thank you goes to our stroke program and our employees’ dedication to go above and beyond to maintain adherence to the protocols of the stroke program. This is part of what makes OakBend Medical Center a great hospital. Working the ‘Get With The
Guidelines®’ program is designed to help stroke survivors have successful outcomes,” said Joe Freudenberger, CEO, OakBend Medical Center, “and we are proud to receive our 8th consecutive award for our participation in this program.”
To find out more about OakBend Medical Center’s Award Winning Stroke Program log onto www.oakbendmedcenter.org.
About OakBend Medical Center
OakBend Medical Center is an independent, nonprofit community hospital based in Fort Bend County, providing quality care and exemplary service with its four hospitals, as well as many specialty centers. As a community hospital, caring for our patients is personal. Our patients are our neighbors, our family, and our friends. We act with integrity and compassion, each of our staff takes ownership of providing the highest quality care and we have an absolute commitment to excellence in all that we do.
OakBend Medical Center distinguishes itself among its healthcare peers in Fort Bend County by housing several unique programs and facilities including the County’s only:
- No Wait Emergency Room
- Hospital-based Skilled Nursing Facility
- Neonatal ICU Level II
- Advanced Trauma Program
- Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit
- Geriatric Psychiatric Program
- Permanent Hospital-based Air Ambulance
For more information, please visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org. Connect with us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.