FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has recognized Baptist Health-Van Buren as an Arkansas Stroke Ready Hospital (ArSRH).
Stroke has a significant impact on the health of Arkansans. The most recent data for 2022 show Arkansas has the 9th highest stroke death rate in the country, with 1,774 total stroke-related deaths. Stroke remains a leading cause of serious disability. Although life-saving treatment is available to reverse the effects of the most common type of stroke, few patients receive medical care in time.
Hospitals recognized with the ArSRH designation partner with local EMS to improve outcomes by helping ensure stroke patients are rapidly transported to the most appropriate hospital. EMS providers screen patients with standardized protocols to effectively recognize stroke and make sure patients receive the right kind of care.
Baptist Health-Van Buren joins our hospitals in Arkadelphia, Conway, Drew County, Heber Springs, Hot Springs, and Stuttgart in receiving this designation. The system’s hospitals in Fort Smith and North Little Rock are designated as Primary Stroke Centers. Baptist Health-Little Rock is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Baptist Health hosts monthly support group meetings for stroke survivors and their caregivers in the River Valley. The meetings are open to the public and take place on the second Friday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Baptist Health Classroom on the first floor of Baptist Health-Fort Smith. For more information, visit the Classes & Resources page of baptist-health.com. Visit healthy.arkansas.gov for more information on stroke prevention in Arkansas.
About Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered all our best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here For You. For Life. – with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; and a graduate residency program. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit Baptist-Health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app.