Norman Regional Health System Receives the 2017 Women’s Choice Award as One of America’s Best Stroke Centers

Honor recognizes comprehensive care to treat heart disease, nation's leading cause of death for women

NORMAN, OK – Norman Regional Health System is being recognized as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers by the Women's Choice Award®, America's trusted referral source for the best in healthcare. The award signifies that Norman Regional Health System is in the top 7 percent of U.S. hospitals offering stroke care services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five women in the United States will have a stroke in her lifetime. Nearly 60 percent of stroke deaths are in women, and stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer. Most alarming, the percentage of strokes in women under age 45 is increasing, with studies showing these women are more likely to be misdiagnosed.

"Timely diagnosis and effective care are critical to preventing disability and improving chances of recovery," said Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women's Choice Award. "Our award educates women about where they—and their loved ones—have the best chance to return to a full life following a stroke."

A stroke center must be certified by the Joint Commission Stroke Certification Program as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and/or Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center to be considered for the award. It is the only award recognizing excellence in stroke care based on robust criteria that consider patient satisfaction and clinical excellence.

The methodology used to select Norman Regional Health System as one of America’s Best Stroke Centers is unique in that it evaluates 30-day stroke mortality and readmission rates and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey results along with primary research about women’s healthcare preferences. Hospitals must also score in the top 80 percent of all hospitals in the following areas:

• Percent of patients receiving Head CT scan results within 45 minutes
• Percent of patients receiving Thrombolytic therapy
• percent of patients receiving Stroke education

Norman Regional is one of 339 award recipients representing the hospitals that have met the highest standards for stroke care in the U.S. by the Women's Choice Award.

"We are honored to be recognized as one of the country's best stroke care centers," said Norman Regional Health System President and CEO, Richie Splitt. "Our dedicated healers stand in the gap between the hurt and the healing every day. This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to providing the highest quality and compassionate for our patients."

About the Women’s Choice Award®

The Women's Choice Award® is a trusted referral source, empowering women to make smart healthcare choices by identifying the country’s best healthcare institutions based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction and clinical excellence. The Women's Choice Award was recently honored by the INC 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2016 for a second consecutive year. Visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/ to learn more.