Every 30 minutes, a patient in Europe suffering from stroke dies or becomes affected by a permanent disability due to inadequate treatment. This is why the Angels initiative presents awards to hospitals that are able to act quickly and efficiently when a patient with stroke is identified. The Neurology Clinical Department of the University Hospital in Kraków has joined the ranks of these exceptional institutions upon receiving the Diamond ESO Angels Award 2021.
Angels awards hospitals in 112 countries around the world for being able to quickly and efficiently take care of patients that have suffered a stroke. In Poland, this condition affects as much as 72 thousand of patients every year. Their quality of life after that depends on whether or not they receive professional help.
The Diamond Tier award is presented to health care centres which fulfil the following conditions:
- 75% of patients treated with door to needle time < 60 minutes
- 75% of patients treated with door to groin time < 120 minutes
- 50% of patients treated with door to needle time < 45 minutes
- 50% of patients treated with door to groin time < 90 minutes
- 25% recanalisation procedure rate out of total stroke incidence in the hospital
- 90% of all suspected stroke patients undergoing CT or MRI imaging procedure
- 90% of all stroke patients undergoing dysphagia screen
- 90% of ischaemic stroke patients discharged with antiplatelets
- 90% of atrial fibrillation related stroke patients discharged with anticoagulants
- Stroke patients are treated in a dedicated stroke unit or ICU during their hospital stay
‘Over the years, we have transformed from a fledgling health care centre to one of the most recognised institutions in Poland. Nothing is more satisfying than an objective and impartial award. It shows we’re doing good work’, said the Director of the University Hospital in Kraków Marcin Jędrychowski.
The University Hospital’s Neurology Clinical Department, in collaboration with the Diagnostic Imaging Unit, has been raising awareness about stroke in Kraków and Małopolska in general, and has been providing medical training for emergency medical services. The hospital is also carrying out a project on preventive measures in cerebrovascular diseases funded by the European Union.
