Methodist Sugar Land Hospital receives The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has received The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification. The certification recognizes Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. Achievement of certification signifies that the care provided encompasses the critical elements to achieve long term success in improving outcomes. It is the best indicator to the community that the quality of care provided by a hospital is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients with the best possible outcomes.
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Certification addresses the important element of time,” said Amitabh Shukla, M.D., Medical Director of the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Stroke Program. “The mortality rate for stroke in Harris and surrounding counties is twice as high as the national average, making it even more important for Methodist Sugar Land Hospital to bring this higher standard of stroke care to Fort Bend County residents,” said Maria Socci, Manager, Stroke Program. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients in the emergency room. Stroke patients will have access to immediate brain imaging scans and timely review by the radiologist, as well as, a neurologist who will conduct patient evaluations and use clot-busting medications when appropriate.
Photo: Left to Right: Stroke Care Team - Julie Pickle, Physical Therapist; Christina Berg, RN, ICU; Lee Rutledge, Nurse Practitioner; Diane McGraw, Director of Quality Management; Kathleen Thoede, Speech Pathologist; Trude Cables, Lab Technologist; Chris Siebenaler, CEO; Amitabh Shukla, M.D., Medical Director of the Stroke Program; Tiffany Bell, RN and Nursing Manager; Maria Socci, Stroke Program Manager; Nichelle Everett, Director of Pharmacy; April Kelly, CT Technologist; Madonna Suarez, RN, Emergency Department and Ann Prather, RN, Quality Management.
“To receive The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Certification, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital consistently followed The Joint Commission standards. These standards include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs, and smoking cessation,” said Socci.
“Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is focused on improving the quality of stroke care by achieving The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Certification. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population,” said Janet Leatherwood, CNO at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
For a physician referral, please call Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s physician referral line 281-274-7500, or visit MethodistSugarLand.com.
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