Primary Stroke Center at Lakewood Regional Medical Center Receives Joint Commission Certification
by Patrick Houston
Lakewood, CA
Lakewood Regional Medical Center recently received the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction for its primary stroke center. The certification recognizes centers making exceptional efforts to foster better patient outcomes for stroke care. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., often causing serious long-term disability.
“Lakewood Regional Medical Center’s primary stroke center provides a unique, multi-disciplinary approach to stroke care within a hospital offering a full range of diagnostic, medical, surgical and rehabilitative care services for patients” said Jodi Hein, chief nursing officer.
“Stroke care is complicated, requiring a team approach. Our multi-disciplinary team of critical care and floor nurses, emergency department (ED) nurses and physicians, radiologists, stroke care coordinator, social worker, and representatives from pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy meet weekly to review the case of every stroke patient who gets admitted to Lakewood Regional Medical Center” said Hein. Lakewood Regional Medical center uses its Code Stroke Team to provide in-house first-line defense to patients who exhibit stroke symptoms.
Time is a critical factor in the treatment of ischemic stroke, from the first onset of symptoms to administering treatment with tissue plasminogen activator, a clot-busting drug commonly referred to as tPA. The stroke center team constantly monitors their performance on 10 separate areas of acute stroke care from “door to needle” – the time a patient enters the ED to when they are administered the tPA.
In addition to the Stroke Center accreditation, Lakewood Regional Medical Center has received the 2011 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus and Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Lakewood Regional Medical Center’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke and congestive heart failure patients, following evidence-based guidelines.
Community education is crucial to helping people understand how to get the most effective emergency care when they are suffering initial symptoms, according to Neil Y. Cunanan, RN, MSN, Lakewood Regional Medical Center’s stroke care coordinator.
Lakewood Regional is embracing evidence-based guidelines in an effort to achieve designations by developing clinical pathways to ensure clinical excellence. We are currently on a journey to achieve our goal of 4 additional designations over the next 18 months.
Congratulations to the Stroke Team, pictured below:
