St. Mary’s Health Care System Neurohospitalist H. McCord Smith, M.D., was awarded the prestigious Georgia Hospital Heroes Award at the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Annual Meeting on Nov. 13. Dr. Smith, who was one of only 10 individuals statewide to receive the award and one of two Physician Heroes, was recognized for his work with the hospital’s stroke program. 

In his more than 40 years of practicing neurology, Dr. Smith has brought outstanding care to patients in his community, but what stands out most is his work on behalf of stroke patients. A tireless advocate for his patients, he played a leadership role in establishing a sophisticated stroke program at St. Mary’s and helped ensure 10 years of continuous Joint Commission certification as an advanced primary stroke center.

When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a medication that dissolves blood clots, for emergency stroke treatment, Dr. Smith became the leading champion for putting it to use in his community. He led the development of protocols that allowed medical staff to quickly diagnose ischemic stroke and determine when to administer tPA. Under these protocols, St. Mary’s has administered tPA to 139 stroke patients in the past six years with outcomes that far exceed national expectations.

In 2003, Dr. Smith helped establish St. Mary’s Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, a 20-bed facility that provides intensive inpatient rehabilitation for stroke patients. In 2009, he and his partner, C. Van Morris., M.D., gave up their office practice to become the region’s first neurohospitalists. With Dr. Morris, Dr. Smith has been a leader in recruiting additional neurologists to the Athens area and to St. Mary’s medical staff. 

Dr. Smith has also been instrumental in establishing stroke care for patients outside the Athens area. Working with Georgia Regents University, he has been a key part of the team that has brought REACH telestroke services to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro. The program gives patients access to neurologists at GRU who can consult with emergency department physicians in real time to diagnose and treat stroke patients from anywhere, at any time, through a computer and webcam.

“Without a doubt, stroke care in the Athens community and surrounding areas would not be where it is today without the efforts of Dr. H McCord Smith,” said GHA President Earl V. Rogers. “We are grateful to him and are appreciative of the work he has done to better the health and well-being of these patients. He is a most-deserving recipient of this award.”