S. Mark Taper Foundation Awards $30,000 Grant to Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Stroke Center

VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The S. Mark Taper Foundation awarded a grant of $30,000 to Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) for its Stroke Center, a state-of-the-art facility using the latest in telemedicine and diagnostic tools to ensure the best possible outcomes for its patients, Gustavo Valdespino, President and CEO of VPH, announced today.

“We are proud of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s cutting-edge technology because it offers quicker assessment and treatment to stroke patients so that they can have the best possible outcomes.”

“We are very grateful to the S. Mark Taper Foundation for this generous gift and for its recognition of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients,” said Mr. Valdespino. “With this gift, we can further advance the essential care we provide to patients in our stroke center and continue to move forward with the latest in advanced telemedicine to make certain stroke patients will have the immediate access they need to care.”

A stroke, which is sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The Centers for Disease Control report that 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year, and 137,000 of them die.

VPH was designated as a Primary Stroke Center in June because of its proven ability to provide the effective and timely care to stroke victims that can significantly improve outcomes. By achieving this designation, it provided a closer location for surrounding residents to quickly access stroke care.

VPH’s use of the latest in telemedicine—which includes a two-way communications system that it calls RoboDoc—helped it achieve Primary Stroke Center certification. With two-way audio and video communication, RoboDoc makes it possible for the physician to be at another location and examine and speak directly to patients, receive input from the resident medical team and then advise the medical team on treatments and therapies.

“With strokes, time is of the essence in assessment and treatment,” said Mr. Valdespino said. “We are proud of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s cutting-edge technology because it offers quicker assessment and treatment to stroke patients so that they can have the best possible outcomes.”

About the S. Mark Taper Foundation

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in Southern California. S. Mark Taper was a real estate developer, financier and philanthropist in Southern California.

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, a non-profit and nonsectarian hospital, has remained focused on meeting the medical needs of the community for over 50 years. While VPH has grown to become one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley, it continues to provide patient-centered care for a healthier community. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and a full range of medical services. With 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties, VPH provides the latest state-of-the-art treatments to improve and save lives. For more information, visit www.valleypres.org.