Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center (EMRMC) and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital have earned The Joint Commission’s Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification.

The two hospitals underwent rigorous surveys earlier this year. During the survey, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including the care of a patient with a stroke arriving at the hospital, to the transfer of the patient to the appropriate level of care. As a part of the certification, data is collected to provide evidence based care for our patients who have had a stroke. 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.

“Acute Stroke Ready Hospital certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Ephraim McDowell for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”

“We congratulate Ephraim McDowell for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

“Our Associates and physicians have worked hard to earn this certification and we are very proud of them. Earning this certification means that our patients are receiving excellent stroke care at our hospitals,” says Dan McKay, president and chief executive officer, Ephraim McDowell Health.