In April, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Stroke Certification. Carilion was the first healthcare system to receive this certification.
To qualify, teams must have the tools and the expertise to perform a mechanical thrombectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a blood clot from an artery in the brain. Centers must have neurointensive care and 24/7 on-site critical care coverage. Teams must have performed mechanical thrombectomy and post-procedure care for at least 15 patients with ischemic stroke over the past 12 months (or 30 over the past 24 months). Carilion Roanoke Memorial volumes were well above that threshold, performing 69 of these procedures in 2022.
“To operate as the first Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center in the region, our skilled NeuroInterventional team provides critical care that dramatically improves outcomes for stroke patients,” said Aashit Shah, M.D., chief of Neurology at Carilion. “We are proud and honored to achieve this national recognition.”
To receive the certification, Roanoke Memorial underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review in Feb. 2023. During the visit, The Joint Commission evaluated compliance with certification standards, which are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“The Stroke Program Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Deborah Ryan, interim executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations with The Joint Commission. “We commend Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”
“We congratulate Carilion for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”
For more information about Carilion’s stroke offerings, visit CarilionClinic.org. And be sure that you know how to “BE FAST” and spot a stroke.
