Prompt recognition, response and medical intervention are crucial when it comes to stroke care. For this reason, two community hospitals chose to pursue stroke certification. Ashley Wirges, vice president of patient care at Parkview Whitley Hospital and Parkview Warsaw, shares the motivation behind these prestigious certifications and why they are so important for patients and the community.
What is stroke certification?
Stroke certification recognizes a hospital’s or emergency center’s achievement in delivering evidence-based care rooted in the latest science and advancement of stroke care. It shows our commitment to excellence and our continuous improvement in performance, risk reduction and care for stroke patients.
What are the differences between stroke care certifications?
Parkview Whitley Hospital received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Certification. This certification recognizes that they have a dedicated stroke-focused program staffed by qualified medical professionals trained in stroke care. It acknowledges that this facility can provide individualized treatment to meet a stroke patient’s needs while achieving long-term success in improving outcomes.
Parkview Warsaw received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Acute Stroke Ready Certification. This certification recognizes that their facility has taken steps and offers a dedicated, stroke-focused program for the community.
How do these certifications benefit the community?
Earning these stroke certifications means Parkview Whitley and Parkview Warsaw hospitals are committed to providing excellent stroke care and improving outcomes for all stroke patients that come through their doors. These certifications also help strengthen the community’s confidence in us and the exceptional care, treatment and services we strive to provide them every day.
What does this certification entail?
We started by developing a stroke team task force with providers at Parkview Whitley and Warsaw hospitals. From there, we looked at everything, including what we needed to improve. That meant a lot of preparation, planning, education, reeducation, examining policies and procedures, identifying challenges and barriers, finding solutions and understanding the “why” behind it all.
When it came time for the certification, we underwent rigorous onsite reviews, observations and interviews. During these visits, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated our compliance with certification standards, including stroke program management, supporting self-management, delivering and facilitating clinical care, and performance measures.
What else would you like people to know about these prestigious certifications or stroke care at Parkview?
I think it’s important to note that while most hospitals can provide a basic level of stroke care, Parkview Whitley Hospital and Parkview Warsaw have demonstrated and proven that they can provide care according to well-defined national standards. I am proud of our loyal and cohesive teams and for our work to show improvements and excellence in the quality, safety, treatment, and care of our stroke patients. These certifications demonstrate our commitment to a higher standard of clinical service and will provide a framework to continue to improve patient outcomes.
