Northwest Again Earns Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers
Members of the Northwest Advanced Primary Stroke Center team
Northwest Texas Healthcare System (Northwest) announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers again for 2019. The Gold Seal of Approval and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations.
Northwest underwent a rigorous onsite review in November 2018. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
“Northwest has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Patrick Phelan, Executive Director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Northwest for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”
“We congratulate Northwest for achieving this designation,” said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “By adhering to this very specific set of treatment guidelines, Northwest has clearly made it a priority to deliver high-quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”
“We are excited to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association again,” said Ryan Chandler, CEO at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. “The certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide as well as to continually strive to advance our care even further.”
Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. 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.
Northwest’s reach extends to the entire region via a telestroke (telemedicine) platform, which provides instant access for a consultation with specialists remotely, leading to faster diagnosis and treatment for patients 24/7. This means that Northwest gives local physicians and hospitals in the Panhandle the ability to consult about a stroke patient’s care in real time, ask questions and receive advice from stroke experts in a matter of minutes using two-way interactive video-conferencing technology. With this type of “on demand” acute stroke expertise, patients can be given a clot-busting drug like tPA, more quickly, which has proven to reduce disability in patients with ischemic stroke.
Additionally, Northwest has an inpatient rehabilitation facility with Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists and an outpatient therapy clinic dedicated to neurological recovery, which is inclusive of a hand clinic that focuses on regaining fine motor function to the upper extremities. Dedicated to post-stroke recovery, these specialists work hand-in-hand with stroke patients and their families to ensure the best possible outcomes following a stroke episode.