Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark for Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification.
Comprehensive stroke center certification is the highest level of certification for hospitals with specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases, according to The Joint Commission. To qualify, a hospital must provide 24/7 access to the facilities, equipment, and staff necessary to carry out advanced stroke care.
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock underwent a rigorous, two-day onsite review on Sept. 15 and 16. During the visit, Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards and commended the stroke team for their outstanding program.
“Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, accreditation and certification operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”
“We congratulate Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock 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.”
The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization, accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs. It is the oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare in the U.S.