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Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England awarded with post-acute stroke quality improvement award

WOBURN, Mass., July 22, 2019 – Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England received the Post-acute Collaborative Participation Award from the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The award recognizes post-acute facilities that participate in the Collaborative and have shown dedication in improving the care stroke patients receive in the post-hospital setting in calendar year 2018.

Collaborative participants have been participating in regional meetings, learning sessions and quality improvement activities in their facilities.

“At Encompass Health New England, we strive to provide exceptional care to all our patients. We are proud to be working on improving the post-acute care of stroke patients. Being honored by this award emphasizes the importance of our work,” said Dr. Ariel Savitz, Stroke Program Medical Director of Encompass Health New England.

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the Commonwealth, and a leading cause of adult disability. Immediate assessment and treatment is critical to help improve outcomes.

Knowing the key signs and symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately can save a life. The F.A.S.T. acronym is an easy way to remember:

  • Face: Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile.
  • Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.
  • Speech: Does the speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a phrase.
  • Time: If you observe these symptoms, call 9-1-1.

For more information about the Massachusetts Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, or about F.A.S.T.and the DPH stroke awareness campaign, please visit: www.mass.gov/dph/heartstroke.

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From left to right: Anita Christie, RN, MHA, CPHQ-  Director of Clinical Preventive Services at MA Department of Public Health, Thomas Plante, PT – Director of Therapy Operations, Stephanie Brooks, RN, BSN, CRRN – Charge Nurse, Kevin Ma, PT, DPT, CBIS – Physical Therapist, Dr. Ariel Savitz – Stroke Program Medical Director, Sara Kooima, MA, CCC-SLP – Therapy Team Lead, Speech, Teresa Hayes, MSW, LICSW – Business Development Director and Lee Schwamm, MD- Executive Vice Chairman of Neurology and Director of the Mass General Stroke Service
 

About Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England is a 210-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Serving patients throughout the Greater Boston area, the hospital is located at 2 Rehabilitation Way in Woburn. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of New England also operates inpatient hospitals in Beverly, located at 800 Cummings Center, and in Lowell, located at 1071 Varnum Avenue as well as two outpatient centers in Woburn and Billerica. These hospitals may be found on the web at http://www.encompasshealth.com/newenglandrehab.

About Encompass Health
As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facility-based and home-based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 131 hospitals, 244 home health locations, and 82 hospice locations in 37 states and Puerto Rico, the Company is committed to delivering high-quality, cost-effective, integrated care across the healthcare continuum. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter and Facebook.