ALVARADO HOSPITAL EARNS NATIONAL DISTINCTION FOR STROKE PROGRAMS
Alvarado Hospital First in Western United States to Earn Dual Certification
Alvarado Hospital’s stroke rehabilitation program has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission. With this designation,
Alvarado becomes the first hospital in the western United States to earn dual certification as a Primary Stroke Center and as a Gold Seal of Approval™ stroke rehabilitation program.
Alvarado Hospital is the first hospital in California to earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ for its stroke rehabilitation program, and is currently one of very few community hospitals in Southern California with this prestigious designation.
“Alvarado Hospital joins an elite and small group of hospitals in achieving Joint Commission certification of its stroke rehabilitation program,” said Dr. Patrick Delaney, stroke program director at Alvarado Hospital. “We are proud of the comprehensive stroke care provided for our patients and the community.”
Additionally, Alvarado Hospital was recognized by the American Heart/Stroke Associations at the 2010 International Stroke Conference for achieving the Gold Performance Achievement Award for Stroke Care. By being recognized by the Joint Commission and the American Heart/Stroke Association, Alvarado Hospital has demonstrated it has met the highest standards in stroke care across the continuum.
“This special recognition validates the dedication of our interdisciplinary rehabilitation team,” said Dr. Lance Stone, medical director of San Diego Rehabilitation Institute at Alvarado Hospital. “Neurologic recovery requires an experienced team to return survivors to a new and satisfying life following a stroke, and now our team is recognized among the best in the U.S.”
Extensive Onsite Evaluation
To earn the Gold Seal of Approval™, which is part of the Disease-Specific Care Certification awarded by The Joint Commission, means
Alvarado’s stroke rehabilitation program underwent an extensive on-site evaluation by a team of surveyors. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards and Clinical Practice Guidelines through an assessment of a program’s processes, the program’s ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization and interviews with patients and staff.
Alvarado’s stroke rehabilitation program underwent an extensive on-site evaluation by a team of surveyors. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards and Clinical Practice Guidelines through an assessment of a program’s processes, the program’s ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization and interviews with patients and staff. Achievement of certification signifies that the service a hospital provides has the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes. It is the best signal to the community that the quality care a hospital provides is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients.
The Joint Commission’s surveyors found the hospital’s comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation program exceptional and were very impressed by the stroke peer volunteer visitor program. They felt that this unique program offers patients the opportunity to speak with a person who has experienced a stroke and has truly walked a mile in their shoes.
According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 3 killer in the United States. 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 ever 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.
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