Adena Health System has been re-certified as a primary stroke center, earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The designations represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations.
“When minutes make the difference between life and death, or long-term health effects, Adena’s designation as a Primary Stroke Center should assure our community that we have the staff, skill and resources to give every patient experiencing a stroke, the greatest opportunity for a positive outcome,” said Adena’s Interim President and CEO Dr. John Fortney.
Led by Adena Neurologist Dr. Muhammad Akhtar, Adena’s Stroke Team has seen its Stroke Alert cases double, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatments triple since first being named a Primary Stroke Center in 2014. With its re-certification, and receiving the Commission’s Gold Seal, Adena joins an elite group of health care organizations focused on highly-specialized stroke care.
As a Primary Stroke Center, hospitals must demonstrate compliance with stroke-related standards and meet additional requirements, including those related to advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and providing staff with the unique education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients.
Adena underwent a rigorous on-site review in December 2016. Joint Commission experts evaluated the program’s compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, and found Adena has “Thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of its patients having a complex stroke condition.” Joint Commission President and CEO Dr. Mark R. Chassin added, “Certification is a voluntary process, and The Joint Commission commends Adena for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate the standard of its care for the community it serves.”
Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.
Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United State. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.