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Winston-Salem, NC - Recognizing its significant achievements in clinical improvement and operational excellence for providing stroke care, Forsyth Medical Center (FMC) has received the Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) Best Practices Award in the Gold Standard Category. The Gold Standard category highlights best practices in overall performance in all aspects of the VHA's StrokeSense program for patients with or at risk for stroke.

"Forsyth Medical Center demonstrated the highest achievement in clinical improvement, operational excellence and community impact in the national StrokeSense program," says Anne Theis, senior program director for VHA.

"We've been extremely focused in working with our stroke center staff and physicians to develop innovative prevention and treatment programs," says Paul Hammes, executive director of imaging and neurosciences at FMC. "In addition to FMC being the first medical center in the state to be nationally certified for stroke care, I believe our community screening and outreach programs are being acknowledged by this VHA recognition."

FMC and other VHA member community-based hospitals across the country have participated in StrokeSense, a collaborative effort for non-profit hospitals, physicians, high-risk patients, consumers and community organizations designed to reduce the incidence and mortality of stroke by increasing awareness and changing behavior of providers and consumers.

VHA is a nationwide network of 2,200 leading community-owned health care organizations and their affiliated physicians established to help improve financial and clinical performance.

Forsyth Medical Center is one of seven hospitals that are part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in North Carolina. In addition to Forsyth Medical Center, other hospital affiliates include Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem and Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; also Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte area. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.

Novant Health has been nationally recognized as the Best in Industry for Working Mothers by Working Mother Magazine and one of the Top 40 Family-Friendly NC Companies by Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent magazines. Additionally, Novant Health was named to the 2003 SMG Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks in the country.