OSF St. Joseph Medical Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center earned this distinction after the Joint Commission conducted an on-site review in March 2007. This means OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is now a certified stroke center, a rare distinction for hospitals providing neuroscience care.

“OSF St. Joseph Medical Center demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

Each year about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.

“We’re proud to achieve the distinction,” says Administrator Ken Natzke. “Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes our commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and our community.”

In 2006, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center introduced the minimally invasive coil embolization procedure for patients with brain aneurysms. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is among a limited number of hospitals between Chicago and St. Louis, and the only facility in the regional service area providing this state-of-the-art life-saving procedure.

Earlier this year, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center opened a state-of-the-art neuro-vascular angiographic suite. The Oscar Mandel Cohn Neuro Vascular Suite allows physicians to conduct minimally invasive procedures to treat strokes, carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and other peripheral vascular disorders.

“This stroke certification adds to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center’s ongoing commitment to provide the best neurovascular care for the people of central Illinois,” says Natzke.

Curtis Hayden, MD, serves as medical director of the Primary Stroke Center at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation’s first—in 2003.

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center provides comprehensive neuroscience care throughout the care continuum offering better patient outcomes, higher quality treatment, state-of-the-art equipment, and a highly qualified staff.