ST. LOUIS - The SSM Neurosciences Institute at St. Joseph Health Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers. Following a comprehensive on-site evaluation of SSM St. Joseph Health Center’s stroke program on July 21, The Joint Commission awarded disease-specific certification to the hospital.
St. Joseph Health Center is the first hospital in St. Charles County to earn Primary Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission. Only 14 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved the advanced certification.
Joint Commission standards are regarded as the most rigorous in the industry. Certification recognizes the high level and comprehensive nature of the stroke care provided at St. Joseph Health Center. It is based on a thorough evaluation of standards of care, clinical practice guidelines and performance measurements.
“SSM St. Joseph Health Center demonstrated that its stroke care program follows the most stringent national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.
Each year about 700,000 people experience a stroke, which is the nation’s fourth leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.
“We’re proud to achieve the distinction,” says Min Pan, M.D., neurologist and medical director for the stroke center at SSM St. Joseph Health Center. “Joint Commission certification recognizes our commitment to providing exceptional care to our patients and the community.”
SSM St. Joseph Health Center has made significant investments in state-of-the-art technology and stroke treatment capabilities. Advanced imaging technology helps doctors quickly diagnose stroke and initiate treatment.
The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition’s and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation’s first—in 2003. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.
About SSM St. Joseph Health Center
SSM St. Joseph Health Center is a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, Chest Pain Center and a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center, located in St. Charles, Missouri. It is the recipient of the 2010 Missouri Quality Award and is a 2010 Premier QUEST High Performing Hospital. The facility offers a broad range of exceptional services and programs including SSM Cancer Care, the SSM Heart Institute, The Vascular Institute and SSM Center for Sleep Disorders. SSM St. Joseph Health Center is a member of SSM Health Care, the first health care winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. SSM Health Care- St. Louis also was named a 2010 ‘Best Place to Work’ by Modern Health Care and the St. Louis Business Journal. For more information about SSM St. Joseph Health Center, please visit www.ssmstjoseph.com and to learn more about our newest upgrades and services visit www.yournewstjoe.com
About the SSM Neurosciences Institute
The SSM Neurosciences Institute treats more stroke patients than any other hospital system in St. Louis. The Institute comprises the neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-interventional and rehabilitation services of SSM DePaul Health Center, SSM St. Clare Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Mary’s Health Center. DePaul Health Center and St. Clare Health Center are also certified as Primary Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission.
About the Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
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Rachel Peine
Communications Specialist
636-947-5621 (office)
rachel_peine@ssmhc.com