NEEDHAM, Mass. - For the second year in a row , Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham has been honored with the Defect-free Care Award from the Stroke Collaborative Reaching for Excellence (SCORE), a voluntary statewide quality improvement collaborative administered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Defect-free care refers to a perfect level of care achieved when every patient receives the appropriate stroke care based on clinical guidelines.

The SCORE Defect-free Care Award recognizes hospitals that provided high-quality care to the majority of their stroke patients over a specific 12-month period. The number of SCORE hospitals providing high rates of defect-free care has increased significantly over the last 3 years, resulting in many more patients receiving high quality care.

"BID-Needham is proud that our hard work and passion for providing great care was recognized by this prestigious award from the DPH's SCORE program," said BID-Needham President and CEO John Fogarty. "We strive to provide exceptional care to all of our patients."

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the Commonwealth, and a leading cause of adult disability. Immediate assessment and treatment is critical to help improve outcomes.

Knowing the key signs and symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately can save a life. The F.A.S.T. acronym is an easy way to remember:

• Face: Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile
• Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms
• Speech: Does the speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a phrase
• Time: If you observe these symptoms, call 9-1-1
  

For more information about SCORE, please visit www.scorema.org .
Find out more about FAST and the DPH stroke awareness campaign, here: www.mass.gov/dph/heartstroke .

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About Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, an acute care community hospital, has served the residents of Needham, Dedham, Dover, Medfield, Newton, Wellesley, Westwood for and surrounding communities for nearly 100 years. This community hospital, previously known as The Glover Hospital, joined Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in 2002. The hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, complete diagnostic facilities, and a brand new, award-winning Emergency Department.