Saint Joseph Hospital Recertified as Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission - Archived

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David McArthur, Senior Manager, Media Relations
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Saint Joseph Hospital Recertified as Advanced Primary Stroke Center
by The Joint Commission

Lexington, Ky. (April 4, 2018) – Saint Joseph Hospital, part of KentuckyOne Health, announced today that it has again earned 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 Gold Seal of Approval® and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations.

“We are Lexington’s heart hospital, and this certification further demonstrates our commitment to providing exceptional stroke care,” said Bruce Tassin, market CEO for KentuckyOne Health and president of Saint Joseph Hospital. “I congratulate our nurses, physicians and entire stroke team on the achievement. They have established Saint Joseph Hospital as a regional leader when it comes to stroke.”

Saint Joseph Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review earlier this month. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.

 “Saint Joseph Hospital has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Saint Joseph Hospital for remaining a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”

“We congratulate Saint Joseph Hospital for again achieving this designation,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “By adhering to this very specific set of treatment guidelines, Saint Joseph Hospital has clearly made it a priority to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”

Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011).

Stroke is the number five 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.

About Saint Joseph Hospital
Saint Joseph Hospital, part of KentuckyOne Health, is a nationally recognized tertiary medical center located in Lexington, KY.  The 433-bed hospital primarily serves central and eastern Kentucky with a full range of services including distinguished awards for cardiology, orthopedics and stroke care. Saint Joseph Hospital is Lexington’s first hospital. Founded in 1877, by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky, the hospital’s original mission was to provide compassionate care to the poor and underserved – a tradition still carried out today.

About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health, part of Catholic Health Initiatives, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth, and includes hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies in Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is dedicated to bringing wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved.

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 accredits and certifies more than 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit 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.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 5 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 American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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/myhospital.

 
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