Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital Earns Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification
St. Mary’s is the only non-academic Joint Commission and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association certified Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (July 5, 2016) – Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital has been recognized for clinical excellence by earning Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center status from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. As the highest level of stroke care certification, Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center status identifies hospitals that meet standards for treating the most complex stroke cases. Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is the only non-academic facility to earn this honor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as in a four-state region. There are approximately 100 Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Centers nationwide out of 5,000 hospitals.
“This accomplishment speaks to the expertise, dedication, and service of each individual caring for patients in our facilities,” said Francine Barr, CEO of Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital. “This certification, coupled with Bon Secours primary certified stroke center network, establishes Bon Secours as the premier provider of cerebrovascular care in the region and across Virginia.”
Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Certification is provided through a partnership between the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint Commission, the nation’s largest independent health care evaluation body. Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes hospitals that meet standards to treat the most complex stroke cases. Eligibility standards include all components of a Primary Stroke Center plus: availability of advanced imaging techniques, including MRI/MRA, CTA, DSA and TCD; availability of personnel trained in vascular neurology, neurosurgery and endovascular procedures; 24/7 availability of personnel, imaging, operating room and endovascular facilities; ICU/neuroscience ICU facilities and capabilities; experience and expertise treating patients with large ischemic strokes, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
According to the American Heart Association, every 40 seconds someone has a stroke in the United States, with over 500,000 new and approximately 200,000 recurring strokes every year. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in adults and the leading cause of adult disability.
“Every second matters during an acute stroke. Rapid diagnosis and treatment by a neurologist is critical to restore blood flow to the brain and prevent permanent damage,” said Stacey L. Epps, M.D., executive medical director, Bon Secours Virginia Neuroscience Institute. “Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care, and as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center we have the opportunity to continue to greatly improve the care and outcomes for stroke patients, particularly the most severe and complex cases.”
Recently, Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital also received the 2016 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, and brings national recognition to St. Mary’s for improving patient care and outcomes.
The Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive specialty care encompassing neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-interventional services and serves patients in eight acute care facilities in Richmond, Hampton Roads and the Northern Neck. Patients at each location benefit from the expertise of all Bon Secours’ physicians, due to an advanced teleneurology system—the largest stroke teleneurology network in Virginia—that enables a board-certified neurologist to link to other doctors via a high-definition video to quickly evaluate patients with neurologic emergencies.
Click here for more information about the Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute.
Comments are closed