Lodi Memorial awarded certification for stroke care
Adventist Health Lodi Memorial has been recognized for its work with stroke victims, earning The Joint Commission’s gold seal of approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s advanced certification for primary stroke centers.
“Providing quality health care for patients and our community is at the center of Adventist Health Lodi Memorial’s mission, and we are honored to be recognized nationally for our ability to treat stroke cases and provide an advanced level of care,” said Adventist Health Lodi Memorial President Daniel Wolcott.
“This certification speaks to our health care team’s commitment to stroke patients in and around Lodi, and has proven our ability to offer effective, timely care to stoke victims and significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.”
Lodi Memorial underwent a rigorous on-site review in November 2017. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
A stroke is a medical emergency in which the blood supply is cut off from the brain. It’s best to get to an emergency room immediately — within one hour of experiencing symptoms.
Often, the biggest problem with stroke is people don’t get treatment fast enough, particularly because many don’t know they are experiencing a stroke.
“If you think you’re having a stroke, it’s important to remember the acronym F.A.S.T. F is facial weakness, A is for arm weakness, S is for speech impediment and T stands for time — time to call 911,” said Amanda deNu, a quality management nurse at Lodi Health.
Established in 2003, advanced certification for primary stroke centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. 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.