Southcoast Health has received the Defect-free Care Award from the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for its care of stroke patients at Tobey Hospital.

The award recognizes hospitals that, from the period of January to December 2014, provided defect-free care to 85 percent or more of their stroke patients by utilizing all of the interventions for which each patient was eligible. Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the Commonwealth, and a leading cause of adult disability.

“This award is just one example of the high quality of care delivered by our expert team of emergency nurses and physicians,” said David McGinnis, MD, Chairman of Tobey Hospital Emergency Department, in a press release. “Individuals can safely chose the local hospital in Wareham and know that they are getting some of the best care around.”