Vidant recertifed as stroke center
By From staff reports
Published in News on February 21, 2016 1:45 AM
GREENVILLE -- Vidant Medical Center has been recertified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center. VMC is one of only four hospitals east of Interstate 95 to achieve this certification.
"This accomplishment is grounded by the commitment of our medical professionals in providing comprehensive stroke care and reducing stroke mortality in eastern North Carolina," said Ashley Elks, stroke center manager.
VMC underwent a rigorous onsite review in January 2016. A Joint Commission surveyor evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
This certification demonstrates the hospital's commitment to maintaining a dedicated stroke-focused program, staffing medical professionals trained in stroke care, individualizing care to meet stroke patients' needs, promoting patient involvement in their treatment plan, coordinating post-discharge care, collecting stroke-treatment and medical team performance data and utilizing data to assess and continually to improve quality of care for stroke patients.
During the visit, the Joint Commission surveyor said, "I have always heard great things about Vidant and I had high expectations for today, and your team met my expectations. If I were to have a stroke, I would want to be treated at this hospital by your staff."
Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.
In North Carolina, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the number one cause of adult disability nationally, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The highest death rates from stroke in the United States occur in the southeast. 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.