AnMed Health earns certification from The Joint Commission
April 13, 2011
ANDERSON, SC – April 13, 2011 – After undergoing an onsite evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, AnMed Health has again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as a Primary Stroke Center. AnMed Health first earned this designation in 2006. The health system has maintained its status as a Primary Stroke Center ever since.
“In stroke care, time is brain,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “By achieving certification as a Primary Stroke Center, AnMed Health has proven that it has the ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims and can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.”
Each year about 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.
“We’re proud to achieve this distinction from The Joint Commission,” said Tina Jury, AnMed Health’s chief nursing officer and vice president for patient care services. “It’s a great recognition of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients and our community.”
The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation’s first—in 2003. A list of programs certified by The Joint Commission is available at www.qualitycheck.org.
The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
