The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association launch new stroke certification program

Article

The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association announce the a new Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program for Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals.

PRESS RELEASE

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois; DALLAS, Texas, JULY 17, 2015 — The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association announce the launch of a new Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program for Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals. This certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s recommendations in 2013 (see “Formation and Function of Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals Within a Stroke System of Care” in the November 12, 2013 Stroke journal).

The Joint Commission began accepting applications July 1 for the new Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification program. The certification is geared toward accredited hospitals that would not otherwise be candidates for Primary Stroke Center or Comprehensive Stroke Centercertification. The goal of the new Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification is to recognize those hospitals equipped to treat stroke patients with timely, evidence-based care prior to transferring them to a Primary or Comprehensive Stroke Center. Facilities that earn the Acute Stroke Ready Hospital distinction will be able to display The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval

®

and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark.

“Currently, nearly half of the population in the United States live 60 or more miles away from a Primary Stroke Center or Comprehensive Stroke Center,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., American Stroke Association spokesperson and executive vice-chairman of the department of neurology and director of stroke services at Massachusetts General Hospital. “If patients who experience an acute ischemic stroke can get treated with clot-busting medications quickly, more lives would be saved and more patients would have improved outcomes.”

Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification is designed to help address the gap in access to acute stroke services, while improving the assessment, delivery and care for patients.

“This new certification acts as an important bridge and will be a key component in an evolving system of stroke care,” said Wendi Roberts, executive director, Certification Programs, for The Joint Commission. “An Acute Stroke Ready Hospital will be the foundation for acute stroke care in many communities, allowing it to be the first stop on a patient’s acute stroke journey before being transferred to a Primary Stroke Center or Comprehensive Stroke Center. Certification demonstrates a commitment to a higher standard of service, while promoting approved the best quality care for all patients that present with a stroke.”

Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification is awarded to eligible hospitals for a two-year period after an onsite review. Organizations seeking this certification must meet the requirements for The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification program, which include:

  • A dedicated stroke-focused program.
  • Staffing by qualified medical professionals trained in stroke care.
  • Collaboration with the local Emergency Management Systems (EMS) that encourages training in field assessment tools and communication with the hospital prior to bringing a patient with a stroke to the hospital.
  • 24/7 ability to perform rapid diagnostic and laboratory testing.
  • Ability to administer intravenous clot-busting medications to eligible patients.
  • Availability of telemedicine technology.
  • Use of transfer agreements/protocols with facilities that provide primary or comprehensive stroke services.

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, 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.

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