Northwest Medical Centers in Bentonville and Springdale have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center along with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s (AHA/ASA) Heart-Check mark, both symbols of quality from the respective organizations. The Heart-Check mark can only be displayed by hospitals that have met all requirements set by the heart and stroke associations.
The two campuses underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review in June. During the visit, the Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with stroke-related certification standards. Using standards developed collaboratively with the AHA/ASA, the surveyors evaluated program management, the delivery of clinical care, and performance improvement, including rapid delivery (less than 60 minutes) of intravenous tPA (clot-buster drug). The survey included onsite observations and interviews with staff.
Arkansas has the seventh highest death rate from stroke in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), improving from its number one ranking in 2010. About 20 people suffer from stroke each day in the state. In the U.S., stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability nationwide, affecting nearly 800,000 people annually.
“Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend these Northwest Health facilities for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”
“We congratulate Northwest Health on 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.”
“When someone suffers a stroke, the time to treatment is of vital importance in giving that person the best chance at a full recovery,” said Steve Badger, CEO at Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville. “Residents of the communities we serve can be assured that our skilled caregivers are providing a high level of stroke care, as validated by these prestigious national organizations. Helping people know the symptoms – and take fast action – is a key goal.”
“Our teams are dedicated to providing high-quality care and are able to treat patients who suffer stroke more effectively than ever before,” said Hans Driessnack, CEO at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. “Our team has worked extremely hard to ensure that everyone – in any phase of care for stroke patients – is educated, engaged and validated to be delivering evidence-based best practice care. I am proud of the teamwork and dedication shown by our employees and physicians to delivering outstanding patient care throughout this certification process.”