[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E509-E510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING PARKLAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM'S STROKE PROGRAM

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2014

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Parkland Health and Hospital System's stroke program. 
Parkland recently received the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold-Plus 
Achievement Award and the Target: Stroke Honor Roll for its 
implementation of quality improvements laid out by the American Heart 
Association/American Stroke Association.
  Parkland is Dallas County's public hospital and serves as one of the 
area's three Level 1 Trauma Centers and the primary care center for the 
county. Parkland is also one of the largest providers of uncompensated 
care in Texas. However, Parkland's dedication to community health 
programs remains unwavering.
  Parkland's commitment to improving stroke care means that patients 
receive personalized care based on clinical guidelines. The American 
Heart Association/American Stroke Association note that hospitals that 
follow the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke see a reduction in length of 
stay and readmission rates for stroke patients, ultimately reducing 
disparity gaps in care.
  Landing on the Target: Stroke Honor Roll demonstrates Parkland's 
commitment to reducing the time between hospital arrival and treatment. 
People who suffer a stroke and receive the clot-buster tPA, the only 
approved drug to treat ischemic stroke, within three hours may recover 
more quickly and are less likely to suffer from a stroke-related 
disability.
  Parkland Health and Hospital System has worked diligently to 
implement guidelines from the American Heart Association/American 
Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 
seconds. I encourage hospitals nationwide to use these internationally 
respected clinical guidelines. It is imperative that we use the 
medications and risk-reduction therapies aimed at the reduction of 
death and disability in stroke patients. I urge

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my colleagues to support the hospitals in each district in this country 
by helping stroke patients and spreading awareness about stroke risk 
factors and treatment.

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