The stroke team at the new, purpose built Netcare Alberton Hospital was recently presented with a gold award by Renathe van der Merwe, senior coordinator of the Angels Initiative South Africa, in the World Stroke Organisation’s (WSO) Angels Awards.
In accepting the award on behalf of the stroke team, Richard Mulder, general manager of Netcare Alberton Hospital commented that the awards are given in recognition of hospitals worldwide that have demonstrated a clear commitment to quality stroke care by establishing cultures and implementing systems to support continuous improvement.
“We are honoured to be part of the globally run Angels Initiative, which is a remarkable, patient centric intervention, dedicated to improving stroke patients' chances of survival and living a disability-free life. The multidisciplinary team under the aegis of neurologist Dr David Djan, stroke coordinator Dineo Magasela and unit manager Katlego Tabana, achieved diamond status in all but one area where gold status was secured and are to be commended not only for their exceptional dedication and commitment but for the outcomes that they are achieving for their patients. We are proud and humbled to be the first Netcare hospital to receive this award which was achieved in just six months following the implementation of the initiative in July 2022,” he added.
| Pic: The stroke team at Netcare Alberton Hospital recently received a gold award in the World Stroke Organisation’s Angels Awards in recognition of their commitment to quality stroke care and outcomes. Seen here receiving the award from the Angels Initiative are from left to right: Richard Mulder, general manager of Netcare Alberton Hospital, Wendy Mandindi, stroke consultant for Gauteng South: Angels initiative, Renathe van der Merwe, senior coordinator: Angels Initiative South Africa, Zasskia Wiese, Netcare’s stroke programme manager and specialist neurologist Dr David Djan. |
| Pic: The multidisciplinary stroke team under the aegis of neurologist Dr David Djan, stroke coordinator Dineo Magasela and unit manager Katlego Tabana recently received a gold award in the World Stroke Organisation’s Angels Awards for their exceptional dedication and commitment. Pictured here is Richard Mulder, general manager of Netcare Alberton Hospital with specialist neurologist Dr David Djan. |
Stroke ready facilities improve patient outcomes
In congratulating the stroke team at Netcare Alberton Hospital, Mande Toubkin, general manager emergency, trauma, transplant and CSI at Netcare said the emergency and trauma programme within Netcare’s hospitals, actively contribute towards the RES-Q quality of stroke care registry, a project that assists healthcare systems across the world to improve stroke outcomes for patients under the aegis of the European Stroke Organisation Enhancing and Accelerating Stroke Treatment [ESO East].
“Stroke ready facilities are of vital importance as they are equipped to provide advanced stroke interventions that can help reduce the severity of a stroke and save lives if initiated as soon as possible after the onset of a stroke. In the process they give patients the assurance that their treatment is aligned to the highest international standards,” she notes.
“Since the inception of the Angels Initiative in 2016, an estimated 7,5 million patients have been treated in more than 6 000 hospitals worldwide while more than 1,400 new stroke-ready hospitals were established across the globe with the aid of the initiative,” Zasskia Wiese, Netcare’s stroke programme manager points out.
“Improving the outcomes for stroke patients requires global collaboration and information sharing so that healthcare teams can continuously improve standards of care. The initiative involves the submission of data to an international stroke registry database (RES-Q) where it is benchmarked against some 7 320 participating hospitals worldwide. Data and outcomes are used to continuously monitor, evaluate and improve stroke care in accordance with strict criteria and timeframes,” says Wiese.
Urgent medical treatment can save lives and improve outcomes
Specialist neurologist Dr David Djan says more than 80 stroke patients were seen at Netcare Alberton Hospital’s stroke unit between July and December 2022 where they received seamless care underpinned by the Angels initiative.
“The multidisciplinary team, which includes a neurologist and neuro-interventionalist is supported by cardiologists, radiologists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, emergency department doctors and nursing staff. The team confers to decide which treatment or combination of treatments are required, which may include medication to dissolve clots, a mechanical thrombectomy to remove a blood clot and restore crucial blood flow to the brain, or conservative treatments,” he notes.
“A stroke or brain attack is a vascular event, which occurs when blood flow to your brain is interrupted due to a blockage in, or rupture of, an artery in the brain thereby preventing oxygen and nutrient rich blood from reaching your brain cells in that area, causing them to become damaged and start dying. This is the expression ‘Time is Brain’ is relevant – strokes require urgent medical treatment to reduce their impact.
“The sooner you receive appropriate emergency intervention and medical treatment in a hospital after the onset of a stroke, the better your chances of survival, minimising brain damage, and limiting other complications. Ideally treatment should commence within 60 minutes following a stroke. As many as 85% of the strokes we see are ischemic which means they are caused by blockages. In these instances thrombolytic therapy – which involves the use of drugs to break up or dissolve blood clots, is used. This treatment should commence between 3 and 4.5 hours of a stroke and within a maximum of six hours,” adds Dr Djan.
“Nowadays much can be done to prevent a stroke and, with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, limit its long term effects. In fact, some people recover fully from a stroke. Without specialised treatment a stroke may, however, be debilitating and limit your ability to function normally again. This may also have a serious impact on your loved ones’ lives. We are glad to be of service to our patients in what is a dynamic environment where the more we do the better we get,” he notes.
Netcare’s stroke ready facilities
Netcare hospitals fulfilling the requirements of stroke ready units – all of which have an international set of measures in place, backed by the necessary systems, expertise and technology – include Netcare Milpark Hospital and Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg, Netcare Unitas Hospital in Centurion, Netcare uMhlanga Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal and Netcare N1 City in Cape Town.
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About Netcare Alberton Hospital
The purpose designed Netcare Alberton Hospital is one of only three accredited private Level 1 trauma centres in South Africa and the only one with a dedicated paediatric trauma pathway, the 24 hour trauma centre incorporates trauma theatres, a trauma ICU, a helicopter landing pad and Netcare 911 base. This enables the multidisciplinary trauma teams to provide highly specialised medical services to patients who have suffered life threatening traumatic injuries or medical emergencies.
Looking for a medical appointment? Netcare appointmed™ will make appointments for YOU with specialists practising at Netcare hospitals, GPs and dentists at Medicross medical and dental centres, and specialists at Akeso mental health facilities. Simply request an appointment online at www.netcare.co.za/Request-a-medical-appointment or phone Netcare appointmed™ on 0860 555 565, Mondays to Fridays between 08:00 and 17:00.
To find out more about the services offered through Netcare hospitals and other of the Group’s facilities, please visit www.netcare.co.za or contact the Netcare customer service centre either by email at [email protected] or phone 0860 NETCARE (0860 638 2273). Note that the centre operates Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 16:00.
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Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare Alberton Hospital
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