Loyola Certified as Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission
January 4, 2018MAYWOOD, IL – Loyola University Medical Center has joined an elite group of hospitals nationwide to be certified by The Joint Commission as a comprehensive stroke center.
Loyola was certified following a rigorous onsite review by The Joint Commission experts who evaluated Loyola's compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements.
"By achieving this advanced certification, Loyola has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of its patients with a complex stroke condition," said Mark R. Chassin, MD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission.
The Joint Commission developed the comprehensive stroke center certification in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Brain Attack Coalition. Certification recognizes the significant resources in staff and training that a center must have to treat patients with complex strokes. To be eligible, a hospital must be designated a primary stroke center and meet additional requirements related to advanced imaging capabilities and 24/7 availability of specialized endovascular stroke treatments, as well as staff education and comprehensive competencies in all phases of stroke care.
Comprehensive stroke center certification is awarded for a two-year period. Certification is derived from the Brain Attack Coalition's Recommendations for Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Metrics for Measuring Quality of Care in Comprehensive Stroke Centers and recommendations from a multidisciplinary advisory panel of experts in complex stroke care.
The independent, nonprofit Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare. It accredits and certifies more than 21,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.
Loyola's Stroke Center includes a nationally recognized team of experts in every facet of stroke-related care, including neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, emergency medicine, rehabilitative services, social work, pharmacy and specialized neuroscience nursing.
For nine years in a row, Loyola has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Loyola's commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.