From left, American Heart Association representative Ann Mroz; Ralph Sacco; Julie Mann; Jose Romano; Ninoska Aranguibel; Kathy Hesse; Jackson Health System President and CEO Carlos Migoya; and Public Health Trust Financial Recovery Board chairman Marcos Lapciuc.

The American Stroke Association has recognized the Miller School’s stroke service at Jackson Memorial Hospital for exceptional performance in treating patients who suffer from stroke, one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States.

American Heart Association President Ralph Sacco, professor and chair of neurology, presented the Get with the Guidelines—Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award to Jose Romano, associate professor of clinical neurology and chief of the Stroke Division, and Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System, at a May 31 Public Health Trust board meeting.

In presenting the award, Sacco lauded the stroke service for meeting the arduous gold standard criteria of achieving 85 percent adherence to the guidelines, which include aggressive use of medications such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), antithrombotics, and anticoagulation therapy, for more than two years.

“It is my honor and privilege to give this nationwide accomplishment to the University of Miami/Jackson,” Sacco said.

The stroke service provides a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department, which includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations, and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get with the Guidelines—Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award addresses the important element of time,” Romano said.