Advocate Condell certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission

After undergoing an on-site evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, Advocate Condell Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

“In stroke care time is brain,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “By achieving certification as a Primary Stroke Center, Advocate Condell has proven that it has the ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims and can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.”

Each year about 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation's third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 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 this distinction from The Joint Commission,” says Dr. Ann Errichetti, President of Advocate Condell Medical Center. “This was a team effort, and we are pleased that The Joint Commission recognized Advocate Condell's commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients and our community.”

The designation of Primary Stroke Center adds to a comprehensive array of heart and vascular services offered at Advocate Condell Medical Center, from routine heart screenings to open heart surgery. Advocate Condell was also the first hospital in Lake County to receive accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Chest Pain Centers for a higher level of expertise in treating patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack.

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 and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation's first—in 2003. A list of programs certified by The Joint Commission is available at www.qualitycheck.org.

You can learn more about Advocate Condell's Primary Stroke Center by visiting www.AdvocateHealth.com/Condell/Stroke. This page contains information about the certification, as well as important information about symptoms and risk factors associated with stroke.