Los Alamitos, CA – November, 2007 – A few years ago, The Joint Commission - in collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) / American Stroke Association (ASA) - developed performance measures for Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. This was an advanced-level certification program designed to recognize primary stroke centers that make ‘exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patient care’. After two years of preparation and an on-site survey, Los Alamitos Medical Center has been granted status as a Primary Stroke Center.
“The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction for Primary Stroke Centers is an exciting designation for us,” said LAMC CEO Michele Finney. A stroke team is in place and data is tracked and managed to make sure the hospital meets or exceeds all program requirements. The Primary Stroke Center designation tells the community that the quality care provided is designed to meet the distinctive needs of stroke patients.
Dr. Nirav Patel, LAMC’s Medical Director of Stroke; Mimi Hatem, RN; and Lynne Downing, RN, CCRN played significant roles in obtaining the Primary Stroke Center status. Key elements to the programs’ successful launch were patient and nursing education, data tracking and management, and the implementation of the ‘Code Stroke’ team. The team brings together numerous hospital departments, clinical functions, and crucial processes in response to a patient presenting with stroke symptoms.
The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification program was developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association. It is based on the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers." Los Alamitos Medical Center is also a Bronze level award recipient for stroke from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines program.
For more information about Los Alamitos Medical Center’s stroke program, contact Lynne Downing, RN, CCRN at 562.799.3104.