Delray Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center Participate in SWIFT PRIME Acute Ischemic Stroke Study to Help Stroke Patients

New Clinical Trial Represents One of the Largest Global Studies to Examine the Effectiveness of Advanced Mechanical Treatment in Stroke Care

Palm Beach County, Fla. (May 27, 2014) – Delray Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center, both part of Tenet Florida’s Advanced Neuroscience Network, are joining an international clinical study, SWIFT PRIME. The purpose of the study is to examine the adjunctive use of mechanical thrombectomy during the early stages of acute ischemic stroke onset.

The randomized controlled trial will determine if patients experiencing an acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion, treated with combined IV t-PA and Covidien’s Solitaire™ FR Revascularization Device within six hours of symptom onset, have less stroke-related disability (mRS) than those treated with IV t-PA alone. Solitaire FR is an overlapping stent-based technology that provides a substantially better revascularization rate to the previous generation of devices. The study may enroll up to 833 patients across 90 centers globally.

“The participating institutions are of the highest tier of quality and efficiency,” said Dr. Ali Malek, the trial’s principal investigator and Medical Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at St. Mary’s Medical Center. “Our participation will allow us to combine our expertise with our colleagues at the best institutions to demonstrate the importance of this treatment modality.”

“Part of our responsibility as a Comprehensive Stroke Center is to do research and educate,” added Dr, Nils Mueller-Kronast, the trial’s sub-investigator and Tenet’s Regional Stroke Director. “We are very pleased to have been selected to participate in such a pivotal trial.”

Acute ischemic stroke occurs when a clot in a blood vessel blocks blood supply to the brain. According to the American Heart Association, acute ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability and the fourth most common cause of death in the United States.

“This important initiative will allow us to combine our research strengths to improve the health of citizens all over the world,” said Davide Carbone, CEO of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

The Solitaire FR device that will be used in the trial received U.S. FDA 510(k) marketing clearance in 2012 and CE Mark approval in 2009.

About St. Mary’s Medical Center

St. Mary’s Medical Center, a part of Tenet Florida, is a 464-bed acute care hospital located at 901 45th Street in West Palm Beach. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of the greater West Palm Beach area for more than 75 years.

St. Mary’s Medical Center offers a broad array of adult and pediatric services with more than 175 doctors representing more than 30 specialties, including: a Provisional Level 1 Trauma Center, a state-designated Pediatric Trauma Referral Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center and a state-designated Brain and Spinal Cord Acute Injury Center. Additional services include the Neuroscience Center, High-Risk Obstetrical Unit with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, the Rehabilitation Institute, the Memory Disorders Center, Kaplan Cancer Center, Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center, Schwartz Kidney Dialysis Center and the Institute for Mental Health.

Pediatric services are provided at the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center, which is the only dedicated children’s hospital between Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Along with 24/7 dedicated pediatric emergency and trauma care, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital offers some of the most specialized pediatric services that include limb reconstruction and lengthening at the Paley Advanced Limb Lengthening Institute, adolescent bariatrics, pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, including the congenital heart surgery program, pediatric oncology program, which includes membership in the Children’s Oncology Group – a clinical trials group supported by the National Cancer Institute, pediatric neurosurgery and pediatric orthopedics. In addition, in-house pediatric intensivists work with area pediatricians to care for children while staying at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.

St. Mary’s Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency, and is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association. The hospital has won many prestigious awards, including the Tenet Circle of Excellence award two out of the last three years. Additionally, the hospital earned an “A” Hospital Safety Score from the Leapfrog Group. To learn more about St. Mary’s Medical Center and Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, visit www.stmarysmc.com, www.palmbeachchildrens.com or call 561-844-6300.

About Delray Medical Center

For over 30 years, Delray Medical Center, a 493-bed acute care hospital, has served the communities of South Palm Beach County. As both a community hospital and Level I Trauma Center located on a 42-acre medical plaza, Delray Medical Center has the ability to offer several specialized services including cardiac care, orthopedics, rehabilitation, neurosciences, emergency care and more.

For the past eight years, Delray Medical Center has been named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals (Healthgrades), as well as a state designated Comprehensive Stroke Center and Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. Delray Medical Center has also been acknowledged as a United Healthcare Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic, Cardiac and Spine services; a UnitedHealth Premium Specialty Center for Total Joint Replacement, Surgical Spine, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Rhythm Management and Interventional Cardiac care; and a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, Hip and Knee Replacement, and Cardiac Care by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. In addition, the hospital earned the Get With the Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus Achievement Award and the Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Award from the American Heart Association. Pinecrest Rehabilitation and Outpatient Hospital at Delray Medical Center has received 3-year accreditation status as a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program from CARF International.

Delray Medical Center is one of only 269 hospitals ranked in the top 5% in the nation for patient outcomes according to a study by Healthgrades, a leading independent healthcare ratings organization, achieving the Healthgrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. The hospital is one of just 13 hospitals in South Florida, and just one of five in Palm Beach County that received the recognition for its clinical performance. Delray Medical Center was also named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters in 2012. In addition, the hospital was one of only 12 hospitals nationwide to earn the Everest Award for achieving both the highest current performance and the fastest long-term improvement over five years. In 2013, Delray Medical Center was named one of the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission for the third year in a row.

The hospital is actively involved in community outreach, sponsoring several events, community lectures and fundraisers. Delray Medical Center is also a smoke free campus. For more information or physician referral, please call 1-800-897-9789 or visit the website at delraymedicalctr.com.

About The Advanced Neuroscience Network
The Advanced Neuroscience Network is an integrated delivery system of medical professionals and hospitals focused on offering a full continuum of neurological care throughout South Florida. From prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and rehabilitation, members of the Advanced Neuroscience Network are dedicated to providing clinical expertise and hope to individuals suffering from neurological disorders.