Aug 29, 2024

EXETER — Exeter Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

“Exeter Hospital is proudly committed to following the latest treatment guidelines of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to assure the best possible patient outcomes,” said Deb Cresta, President of Exeter Hospital. “We are honored to receive these recognitions.”

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Exeter Hospital also received the following recognition awards:

• American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll: To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
• American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll: Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Exeter Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

About Exeter Hospital
For more than 125 years, Exeter Hospital has been integral to the health and wellness of communities in the Seacoast Region. The hospital opened in 1897 as a small cottage hospital on Pine Street in Exeter with accommodations for 10 patients. Since then, Exeter Hospital has grown into a 100-bed community-based acute care hospital that also provides extensive outpatient services.

Exeter Hospital is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.

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Sonya Vartabedian
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Aug 16, 2024

EXETER — Exeter Hospital has received five-out-of-five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in its annual quality and safety assessment. Less than 10 percent of the over 4,600 hospitals that were assessed received five stars as their Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating.

Exeter Hospital has consistently ranked above average overall with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in its annual assessments.

The Overall Hospital Quality Star rating summarizes a variety of measures across five areas of quality into a single star rating for each hospital. The five measure groups include safety of care, readmission, patient experience, mortality, and timely and effective care.

“Exeter Hospital stands committed to delivering exceptional care and ensuring the well-being of all our patients and their families,” said Deb Cresta, President of Exeter Hospital. “We are proud to receive this top recognition from CMS for quality and safety, which underscores the dedication of every member of our team in caring for our community.”

This data, found under the CMS Hospital Compare tool, is available for consumers to help them compare performance measure information and make informed decisions about where to go for health care.

About Exeter Hospital
For more than 125 years, Exeter Hospital has been integral to the health and wellness of communities in the Seacoast Region. The hospital opened in 1897 as a small cottage hospital on Pine Street in Exeter with accommodations for 10 patients. Since then, Exeter Hospital has grown into a 100-bed community-based acute care hospital that also provides extensive outpatient services.

Exeter Hospital is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.

Media Contact
Sonya Vartabedian
Email

Dec 14, 2023

EXETER — Exeter Hospital has received certification as a Primary Stroke Center from DNV, affirming the hospital’s readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems.

“This certification lets our community know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible stroke care,” says Donna McKinney, Vice President of Acute Care/Cancer Services and Chief Nurse Executive of Exeter Hospital. “That means we have a combination of the right equipment, personnel and training to quickly assess and treat strokes. This also includes the ability to efficiently transfer patients in the rare instances they require treatment beyond our capabilities. Achieving certification validates all the effort we have put into this program and to ensuring the health and safety of our patients.”

The DNV Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that the medical center addresses the full spectrum of stroke care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education – and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.

“Achieving certification shows commitment to excellence,” says Kelly Proctor, President of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. “And it helps demonstrate to your community that you are performing at the highest level.”

Aug 7, 2023

EXETER — Exeter Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® — Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

“Exeter Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Donna McKinney, Vice President of acute care/cancer services and Chief Nurse Executive of Exeter Hospital. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in the Seacoast area can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

Exeter Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Exeter Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Sep 14, 2023

EXETER — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), Aliso Viejo, California, recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Exeter Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. The hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) also holds a Beacon Award, which was conferred in 2022. Exeter Hospital is currently the only hospital in New Hampshire holding a Beacon Award.

The Beacon Award for Excellence – a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments – recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award meet national criteria consistent with the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“I am beyond excited for the PCU staff to win this award for the fourth time,” said Elizabeth Keane, director of Exeter Hospital’s PCU. “This award represents their dedication to nursing excellence for over 10 years. All the PCU staff past and present should be proud of this accomplishment.”

The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the PCU at Exeter Hospital signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. The PCU earned its silver award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

• Leadership Structures and Systems
• Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement
• Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development
• Evidence-Based Practice and Processes
• Outcome Measurement

AACN President Terry Davis, PhD, RN, NE-BC, CHTP, FAAN, applauds the exemplary efforts of the caregivers at the Progressive Care Unit at Exeter Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.

“These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of the exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care,” Davis said. “The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”

Exeter Hospital is Nationally Recognized for its Commitment To Providing High-Quality Stroke Care Aug 29, 2024

Exeter Hospital Receives Top Quality and Safety Rating from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Aug 16, 2024

Exeter Hospital receives Primary Stroke Center Certification Dec 14, 2023

Exeter Hospital Receives National Recognition for Care of Stroke Patients Aug 7, 2023

PCU at Exeter Hospital Honored with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence Sep 14, 2023