A multidisciplinary team of the state-of-the-art cerebrovascular centre at UMHAT "St. Marina"–Varna was awarded the Gold Prize for the second quarter of 2024 in the international ESO Angels Awards 2024 – an initiative of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO). The prize is awarded for excellent organisation and treatment of ischaemic strokes in their acute stage.
The award is granted on the basis of quantitative and qualitative indicators based on European and national medical standards in stroke treatment. The guiding criteria are related to the application of specific treatment in acute ischaemic stroke – intravenous thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of the first symptoms and endovascular treatment within 6 hours of stroke onset. This represents the percentage of patients who have received specific treatment in the acute stage of the stroke, and the time from admission to the medical institution until the provision of the differentiated treatment. There are also additional criteria assessing the high level of organisation in treatment, diagnosis, early rehabilitation and secondary prevention following an acute stroke.
This award is a high recognition for the whole interdisciplinary team and all medical specialists at UMHAT "St. Marina"–Varna, involved in the treatment of acute stroke – neurologists, neurosurgeons, imaging specialists, invasive radiologists, cardiologists, emergency physicians, as well as nurses and orderlies, who with their round-the-clock efforts and dedication contribute to improving the care of patients with acute stroke.
Every 30 minutes, a stroke patient who could have been saved dies or remains permanently disabled because he has been admitted to a health care facility inadequately prepared to treat patients with this affliction. The European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Angels Awards recognise the achievements of hospitals with high performance in stroke diagnosis and treatment that consistently provide data on the treatment and diagnostic process of patients with an acute cerebrovascular incident. The awards have been established to give recognition and tribute to deserving teams and professionals who are involved in stroke treatment practice.
