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St. Luke’s Carbon Campus has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Primary Stroke Center Certification. This designation, offered in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recognizes the strong commitment by St. Luke's Carbon Campus to meet high-performance standards of stroke care.

St. Luke’s Carbon Campus underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including evidence-based care guidelines for stroke patients as well as adherence to all of the Stroke Center’s Policy and Procedures, according to Jessica Traud, Network Stroke Program Manager, St. Luke’s University Health Network. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, interim executive vice president, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend St. Luke’s Carbon Campus for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”

“We congratulate St. Luke’s Carbon Campus for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

“This certification serves as further evidence of our unwavering commitment to providing quality, evidenced-based care to the individuals in our community.  It is hoped that this achievement instills confidence that high quality stroke care can be received in their own backyard,” says David Gibson, Vice President of Patient Care Services, St. Luke’s Carbon Campus.

“Ultimately, stroke is a team sport,” explains Daniel Ackerman, MD, FAAN, Director of Stroke and Vascular Neurology at St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN). “It's not just one doctor or one group of doctors or nurses; it really requires a commitment across the whole campus. A primary stroke center like St. Luke’s Carbon Campus has the capabilities not only to evaluate and treat patients in the moment of an acute stroke, but it also adheres to established best practices in stroke care across the entire continuum from stroke prevent through recovery and every step in between.  From working with EMS on protocols to evaluating patients in the emergency room and through patients’ initial phase of stroke rehab and recovery this certification is recognition of St. Luke’s commitment to the health of the community.”