The Joint Commission Certifies 1,000th Primary Stroke Center

Decision on Trinity Health marks milestone for program The Joint Commission and The American Heart/American Stroke Association announced Trinity Health in Minot, North Dakota, is the 1,000th Certified Primary Stroke Center in the U.S. The 251-bed acute care, full-service hospital underwent a rigorous on-site review in November, 2012. A Joint Commission reviewer with expertise in stroke care evaluated Trinity Health for compliance with standards, clinical practice guidelines and performance measurement activities. Developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and launched in 2003, The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification program is based on the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers." Certification is available only to stroke programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. “We congratulate Trinity Health for their achievement as the 1,000th Joint Commission certified primary stroke center in the country,” says Jean Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “Trinity’s Stroke Program will have an important impact on the quality of care for patients throughout their community. Today they join the ranks of Primary Stroke Centers throughout the U.S. with a strong commitment to saving patients from death or life-long disability by meeting the highest standards for acute stroke care.” “We’re very proud to have accomplished Joint Commission certification by providing this level of care for our stroke patients,” said Maximo Kiok, M.D., FAAN, neurologist and director of Trinity Health’s stroke program. “At Trinity Health our practice is to pursue evidence-based medicine, which is proven to make a difference in the outcomes of our patients.” “The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association congratulates Trinity Health as the recipient of the 1,000th Primary Stroke Center Certification. This center, and the others before, have greatly improved the care and outcomes for stroke patients.” says Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., FAHA, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association spokesperson and Vice Chairman of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Stroke programs applying for advanced certification must meet the requirements for Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification plus additional, clinically specific requirements and expectations. Primary Stroke Center certification requirements include: • Results of initial lab tests and diagnostic brain imaging within 45 minutes of order; • Capability to administer IV thrombolytic therapy within three hours of symptom onset; • A designated stroke unit; • A Primary Stroke Center medical director; and • At least one public educational activity on stroke per year. Currently, 15 states require or recognize The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Primary Stroke Center Certification for designation as a primary stroke center. These include Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington. For information about primary stroke center certification, please contact Jean Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission, at 630.792.5291 or dscinfo@jointcommission.org. About The Joint Commission Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,600 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,600 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also certifies more than 2,400 disease-specific care programs such as stroke, heart failure, joint replacement and stroke rehabilitation, and 400 health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org. About the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Hospital Certification Program The familiar Heart-Check mark now helps consumers evaluate their choices in hospital care. Each mark given to a hospital is earned by meeting specific standards for the care of patients with heart disease and/or stroke. The Heart-Check mark can only be displayed by hospitals that have achieved and defined requirements set by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. For more information on the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Hospital Accreditation Program visit www.heart.org/myhospitals. About the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit www.heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.