Saint Vincent Hospital Awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

Worcester, MA – March 5, 2019 – St. Vincent Hospital in Massachusetts is pleased to announce that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Checkmark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval® and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations.

For the rigorous onsite review, Joint Commission experts evaluated St. Vincent Hospital’s compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.

“Our team has made it a priority to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke,” said Ava Collins, Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer at Saint Vincent Hospital. “This certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide through the adherence of the very specific set of treatment guidelines established by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association.”

Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.

“We are honored that Saint Vincent Hospital has been certified by The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center,” said Dr. Gary R. Keilson, Chief of Neurology, Saint Vincent Hospital and Reliant Medical Group. “This designation is a recognition that Saint Vincent Hospital meets all of the critical elements necessary for effectively managing the specific needs of stroke patients. It is an acknowledgement that our hospital uses the latest stroke specific guidelines and that we are providing exceptional care so that our patients have the best possible outcomes.”

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.

To schedule an interview about stroke care at St. Vincent Hospital, please contact PR Manager Daisy Burroughs at 803-833-0104, [email protected].