| |
Crozer, DCMH and Taylor Are Certified Primary Stroke Centers
Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Taylor Hospital have joined a select group of hospitals that have been recognized by the Joint Commission for delivering expert stroke care. Certification is based on strict guidelines developed by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Hospitals that earn Primary Stroke Center status must demonstrate that they provide prompt diagnosis and treatment to save lives and reduce permanent disability.
Read more about how Crozer and DCMH earned this elite status and how this benefits stroke patients by clicking on the links below. Information about Taylor Hospital is coming soon.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center Becomes a Certified Primary Stroke Center
Delaware County Memorial Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Center Status
Taylor Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Center Status
Crozer-Chester Medical Center Earns Primary Stroke Center Status
Employees from a range of departments who helped Crozer become a Primary Stroke Center gather outside the Emergency Department to cut a ceremonial ribbon in celebration of the achievement.
In Brief
- Crozer-Chester Medical Center has joined a select group of hospitals that have been recognized by the Joint Commission for delivering expert stroke care.
- Crozer joins Delaware County Memorial Hospital as the only certified Primary Stroke Centers in Delaware County.
- Certification is based on strict guidelines developed by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. Earning certification requires optimal performance from everyone involved in transporting, evaluating and treating a stroke patient.
- Strokes occur suddenly. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center has joined a select group of hospitals that have been recognized by the Joint Commission for delivering expert stroke care.
Crozer's multidisciplinary Stroke Committee led the medical center's quest to become a Primary Stroke Center.
Crozer has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, demonstrating an adherence to national standards and guidelines. As a certified Primary Stroke Center, Crozer has demonstrated that when treating stroke patients, staff members act quickly to provide a prompt diagnosis and treatment to save lives and reduce permanent disability. Crozer joins fellow Crozer-Keystone member Delaware County Memorial Hospital as a certified Primary Stroke Center (the only ones in Delaware County).
Bradley Grayum, M.D., chief of the Division of Neurology at Crozer, says, “We are all very pleased that the Joint Commission has recognized our stroke program by designating Crozer as a Primary Stroke Center. Excellent stroke care has been ongoing for some time at Crozer but extra effort has been put forth to bring all aspects of our care into compliance with the new American Heart Association and JCAHO guidelines. The [enthusiasm and willingness to take on additional responsibilities] of the 2 North and Emergency Medicine nursing staffs was instrumental in achieving this goal.”
Certification is based on guidelines developed by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. They require applicants to have a stroke team and neurological services available around the clock, written diagnosis and care protocols, close coordination between the emergency department and emergency transport, and encourage the ability to have a dedicated stroke unit, in addition to specific clinical expectations.
Earning certification requires optimal performance from everyone involved in transporting, evaluating and treating a stroke patient. Four months of treatment data is submitted during the application process.
“A stroke program takes a lot of work and dedication from everyone,” says Suzanne Jenkins, stoke coordinator for Crozer. “We are extremely grateful to the departments who participated in the preparation for stroke certification. Emergency Services, the Emergency Department, Radiology, the Laboratory, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2 North and the Medical Intensive Care Unit are just a few of the departments who were so instrumental in helping with this process,” Jenkins says.
Primary stroke centers are required to diagnose a possible stroke patient quickly. CT scans and lab works are completed and evaluated within 45 minutes of a patient’s arrival in the Emergency Department. From transport to diagnosis to treatment, this deadline demands peak performance from every group involved.
It only takes minutes for a stroke to damage brain cells. Within a few hours, the cells can die and this can result in the potential loss of memory, speech, motor control and other debilitating injuries. Some of the warning signs for a stroke include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe and unusual headache.
Strokes occur suddenly. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately because the faster the response, the sooner the person will receive medical attention.
For more information or to find a Crozer-Keystone physician, call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).
Back to top>
Delaware County Memorial Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Center Status
Cutting the ribbon to signify DCMH’s status as a stroke center are John Reilly Jr., D.O, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine; Joseph Lubeck, D.O., chief of the Section of Neurology, and Maureen DePrince, stroke coordinator. They are pictured with members of the DCMH Stroke Committee and Emergency Department.
In Brief
- In June, Delaware County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) joined a select group of hospitals that deliver expert stroke care by becoming a Certified Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission.
- Certification guidelines require applicants to have a stroke team and neurosurgical services available around the clock, written diagnosis and care protocols, close coordination between the Emergency Department and emergency transport, and a dedicated stroke unit, in addition to specific clinical expectations.
- Primary stroke centers are required to diagnose possible stroke patients quickly. From transport to diagnosis to treatment, this deadline demands peak performance from every group involved.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is key to saving lives and reducing permanent disability. In June, Delaware County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) joined an elite group of hospitals that deliver expert stroke care by becoming a Certified Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. There are approximately 400 hospitals in the United States that have earned this designation.
“Stroke center certification signifies that the hospital has met higher standards for evaluation and treatment of acute stroke patients as defined by The Joint Commission,” explains Joseph Lubeck, D.O., chief of the Section of Neurology at DCMH, where in 2007, 275 patients were treated for stroke or transient ischemic attacks.
“There is an urgent need for improvement in diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating patients who suffer a stroke,” notes Maureen DePrince, stroke coordinator for DCMH. “The stroke initiative is consistent with the mission of the Crozer-Keystone Health System, which is to continually improve the care of our patients and to provide appropriate services.”
Certification Ensures Consistency and Excellence
Certification is based on guidelines developed by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. They require applicants to have a stroke team and neurosurgical services available around the clock, written diagnosis and care protocols, close coordination between the emergency department and emergency transport, and a dedicated stroke unit, in addition to specific clinical expectations.
Earning certification requires optimal performance from everyone involved in transporting, evaluating and treating a stroke patient. Four months of treatment data is submitted during the application process. DCMH was the first Crozer-Keystone hospital to apply for stroke certification.
“Starting a stroke program takes a lot of hard work and can only be done with the support of hospital leadership and the entire multidisciplinary team,” DePrince says. “Our entire staff has risen to the occasion, and is doing an excellent job implementing new protocols and guidelines.”
“I think of stroke treatment as having four phases: the acute treatment, the hospitalization in which the goal is to minimize complications, the rehabilitation and the prevention of recurrent strokes,” Lubeck says. “We still lack a miracle cure for stroke, but [having certification] means that patients have a better chance for a favorable outcome in the acute phase and a lower risk of complications. We are also ensuring that patients are started on treatment and educated on lifestyle modification to reduce their chance of another stroke.”
Timing is Key
Time is critical in treating strokes, which are often caused by blood clots in arteries leading to the brain. For example, t-PA, an agent to dissolve clots, is most effective when administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. This means that patients have to reach the hospital and be evaluated within that window. Dissolving clots quickly can prevent the loss of brain tissue – and permanent disability – due to lack of oxygen.
However, t-PA and similar drugs carry major risks as well, the greatest of which is bleeding in the brain, which can cause more damage. The bleeding risk of clot-dissolving drugs increases with time and, after about three hours, exceeds their limited benefit.
The three-hour window of opportunity for treatment begins when symptoms begin, so patients must recognize what is happening, seek care, be evaluated and receive treatment within that period. That’s why it is critical for people experiencing paralysis, confusion, numbness, dizziness or other potential stroke symptoms to get to a hospital quickly. Ideally, that hospital would be certified in stroke evaluation and treatment.
What Patients Can Expect
At DCMH, “an acute stroke patient can expect to be rapidly triaged and evaluated by members of our stroke team,” DePrince says. “We will determine their eligibility for thombolytic therapy [t-PA] and follow protocols for care, treatment and rehabilitation. We also focus on secondary prevention, education specific to patients’ needs, to prevent a recurring stroke. We identify risk factors and work with patients on modification through medication and lifestyle.”
Primary stroke centers are required to diagnose possible stroke patients quickly. At DCMH, CT scans and lab work are completed and evaluated within 45 minutes of patients’ arrival in the emergency department. From transport to diagnosis to treatment, this deadline demands peak performance from every group involved.
As systems within DCMH have been streamlined to deliver excellent care efficiently, a simultaneous effort has begun to educate the public about the signs of stroke.
Back to top>
Taylor Hospital Achieves Certified Primary Stroke Center Status
In Brief
-
In May 2009, Taylor Hospital became certified as a Primary Stroke Center. There are slightly more than 500 hospitals across the nation that have earned this designation.
-
Certified Primary Stroke Centers meet the highest national standards of care for stroke and adheres to guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.
-
Taylor joins Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Crozer-Chester Medical Center as the only Certified Primary Stroke Centers in Delaware County.
-
The difference between hospitals that are Primary Stroke Centers and those who are not is that Stroke Centers have processes in place for rapid diagnostic testing (CT scan and laboratory) and can determine if the patient is eligible to receive tPA, a clot-busting drug.
-
Stroke is a medical emergency. The longer a person waits for treatment, the more brain cells die permanently. Know the symptoms of stroke and call 911 if you suspect someone is having a stroke.
In May 2009, Taylor Hospital joined an elite group of hospitals across the nation when it became certified as a Primary Stroke Center. Currently, there are slightly more than 500 hospitals in the United States that have earned this designation.
“Certification means a few things for the hospital and its medical staff, ” says Gregory Cuculino, M.D., chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Taylor Hospital and co-chairman of the Taylor Stroke Committee. “Chief among them is that we can continue to provide excellent care for patients in our community who suffer a stroke. Certification is also a reward for providing the best care for our stroke patients. It means that we offer the latest treatments and meet the highest national standards of care for stroke.”
In addition, a Certified Primary Stroke Center adheres to guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for and meets the specialized needs of stroke patients. Taylor Hospital has a process in place to treat patients rapidly and effectively to minimize the chance of long-term complications that can result from having a stroke.
“We had a very successful survey,” says Suzanne Jenkins, R.N., B.S.N., stroke coordinator for Taylor Hospital. “Usually, the Joint Commission surveyor finds at least one thing that needs improvement, but Taylor had no RFIs (Requirements for Improvement) or deficiencies. This is truly an outstanding accomplishment.”
When a person comes to Taylor with stroke symptoms, the stroke team is at the ready and immediately springs into action. “Patients presenting with a stroke are given priority status,” Jenkins says. “What makes us different from hospitals who are not Primary Stroke Centers is that we have processes in place for rapid diagnostic testing (CT scan and laboratory) and can determine if the patient is eligible to receive tPA, a clot-busting drug. Even if the patient is not a candidate for tPA, studies have shown that that the sooner we begin treatment for stroke the better the patient’s outcome.”
Other key services that a Certified Primary Stroke Center must offer include having immediate neurological backup, access to neurosurgical services, and providing care by stroke-trained nurses. In addition, Taylor’s paramedics recently received specialized training to recognize when a person is having a stroke. They begin assessment en route to the hospital and notify medical command, which alerts the Emergency Department that a potential stroke patient is on their way. This enables the team to be ready to begin the assessment process when the patient arrives at the hospital.
Signs and Symptoms
Stroke is a medical emergency. Similar to a heart attack, where the longer a person waits to be seen and treated the more vital heart muscle dies, a stroke is termed a “brain attack.” In this scenario, though, precious brain cells permanently die the longer someone waits to go to the emergency room.
Know the signs and symptoms of stroke, and act F.A.S.T.:
Facial weakness. Ask the person to smile. Take a look to see if his or her mouth or eyelids have drooped.
Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms.
Speech problems. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can the person speak clearly? Can he or she understand what you are saying?
Test all three symptoms. If the person fails any of the tests, call 911 immediately.
Additional signs of stroke include the following:
-
Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg
-
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
-
Sudden trouble seeing
-
Sudden trouble walking or dizziness
-
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Jenkins commends the multidisciplinary team that worked so hard to make Taylor’s certification a reality. “This was an incredible team effort,” she says. “We had representation from the Emergency Department, Emergency Medical Services, the laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, ICU, 3 West (nursing stroke unit), PM&R, clinical education, social work and Quality Monitoring and Improvement. Our physicians and neurologists also provided invaluable support and counsel.”
“I’d like to emphasize the importance of the team effort that Suzanne alluded to,” states Bradley Grayum, M.D., chief of the Division of Neurology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and co-chairman of the Taylor Stroke Committee. “While Dr. Cuculino’s colleagues and mine sometimes collaborate on urgent treatment interventions in the Emergency Room (e.g., tPA), the American Stroke Association’s data have shown us that providing care in a specialized stroke unit with appropriately trained nurses saves more lives and prevents more disability than clot-busting and other emergency interventions. Contributions from the entire stroke team are key to preventing and ameliorating our patient’s long-term disability.”
“I feel that this certification will enable Taylor Hospital to continue to provide excellent care to our community for years to come,” Cuculino says. “Patients will feel confident in coming to our hospital knowing that we are maintaining the highest standards in stroke care. Our multidisciplinary team and processes ensure that we can maximize a patient’s recovery from something as devastating as a stroke.”
To learn more about stroke and the importance of seeking out a Certified Primary Stroke Center for care, visit http://stroke.crozer.org.
Back to top>
|
|