Annapolis, MD - Seconds count when someone is suffering from a stroke. As part of a community awareness campaign, County Executive Steuart Pittman presented a proclamation honoring Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (LHAAMC) stroke care initiatives and designated Anne Arundel County as “Stroke Smart” due to the level of care offered by its hospitals.
“With 1 in 6 people having a stroke in their lifetime, this May I encourage all county agencies, schools, health and safety-focused entities, businesses, and community organizations to participate in improving stroke literacy,” Pittman said. “I hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Stroke Awareness Month in Anne Arundel County and call upon all of our residents to recognize and educate themselves and others about the symptoms of stroke.”
To earn the “Stroke Smart” designation, hospitals must meet certain standards of care outlined by the American Stroke Association and Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) that demonstrates the organization’s ability to provide life-saving treatment to patients who may have suffered a stroke.
“A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted or cut off. It is a medical emergency that needs immediate attention by calling 911,” said Sherry Perkins, president of LHAAMC. “Knowing that stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Maryland, our stroke center program is fortunate to work with community organizations, the Maryland Health Department, local schools and businesses to improve stroke care in our communities and save lives.”
Our Stroke Program provides a full range of neurology services supported by the outpatient neurology collaborative team, and patients with hemorrhagic strokes receive neurosurgical care by our neurosurgical team.
“I feel fortunate to lead these dedicated team of professionals, including the multidisciplinary stroke teams as well as stroke survivors support groups that help us deliver a high quality care for stroke patients and also tremendously appreciate the critical communication between the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams with our Emergency Department colleagues who are the key for the “TIME IS BRAIN” concept,” said Dr. Minas Gebru, stroke medical director at LHAAMC.
LHAAMC is consistently rated a “Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus” from the American Heart Association and is an Advanced Primary Stroke Center that has been designated by MIEMMS since 2012.
“It was my privilege to accept this proclamation from Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman on behalf of Luminis Health,” said Jen Harrington, LHAAMC chief operating officer. “Declaring Anne Arundel County a Stroke Smart County ensures high-quality healthcare for all residents of Anne Arundel County.”
