Southeast Missouri Hospital Ranks in Top 10 in Missouri for Stroke Care

HealthGrades representative Mary Sweet, center, presents a plaque recognizing Southeast Missouri Hospital for its Five-Star rated stroke care. Pictured with her from left: Randall Stahly, DO, Medical Director of Southeast’s Stroke Center; Debbie Linnes, Hospital President and CEO; John Thompson, Vice Chairman of the Hospital’s Board of Trustees; and E. Lee Taylor, MD, JD, Southeast’s Vice President/Chief Medical Officer.

Southeast Missouri Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country for stroke care, according to HealthGrades®, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings organization.

For the second year in a row, Southeast ranks in the Top 10 in Missouri for treatment of stroke and in the top 15 percent nationally. The Hospital is the only provider of stroke care in the southeast Missouri region to rank in the Top 10 in the state.

Mary Sweet, a provider services consultant with HealthGrades, made the formal presentation at a ceremony in the Hospital's Lobby on Tuesday afternoon, December 8. In addition to ranking in the Top 10, Southeast is Five-Star rated for the second consecutive year.

Sweet said HealthGrades rates thousands of hospitals nationwide on a variety of treatments and procedures. "We look at mortality and major complication rates," she told a crowd of more than 100 physicians, nurses, Hospital staff, board members and key leadership.

"Patients receiving care at Southeast Missouri Hospital have better survival rates and shorter lengths of stay," Sweet said. "These are tremendous clinical achievements," she said.

John M. Thompson, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said Southeast Missouri Hospital continues to be a regional leader in healthcare.

Randall Stahly, DO, Medical Director of Southeast's Stroke Center, said, "We have one of the best stroke programs in the country." He said it's a credit to the hard work of stroke center staff.

E. Lee Taylor, MD, JD, Southeast's Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, said that the Five-Star rating means that over a three-year period, 35 more stroke patients survived thanks to treatment at Southeast than would have occurred had they been treated at a One-Star rated hospital.

"This is about saving lives," said Debbie Linnes, Hospital President and CEO. She thanked Hospital physicians, nurses and staff for their efforts. "I'd like to thank all of you for the excellent care you provide every day," she said.