DMH Nationally Certified as a Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center

Decatur, March 31, 2008 – Decatur Memorial Hospital’s Brain & Stroke Center has been awarded Primary Stroke Center Certification and the Gold Seal of Approval by the Joint Commission. The program earned the designations after an on-site review was conducted by the Joint Commission in February.

Decatur Memorial Hospital joins 21 other Illinois hospitals certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center.

“It is important to get to the hospital in central Illinois that not only stops an acute stroke, but can reverse the damaging effects,” said Baljit Deol, M.D., DMH neurointerventional surgeon. “You need to remember to get to DMH fast.”

Dr. Deol specializes in delicate pre- and post-stroke procedures including placement of tiny wire coils within cerebral aneurysms and opening clogged arteries in the brain or removing the blockage from the artery.

“Decatur Memorial Hospital demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

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 every 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.

“We are proud to achieve this distinction,” says Ken Smithmier, President & CEO, Decatur Memorial Hospital. “Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes Decatur Memorial Hospital’s commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and our community. Since we know that timely diagnosis, access to clot-busting drugs and special neurointerventional procedures are three of the most critical elements in providing high quality stroke care, this designation is certainly good news for patients throughout Central Illinois. Stroke Center designation also complements the high quality cardio-vascular services we already offer. As we do with heart patients, we also provide stroke patients with the highly specialized, time-sensitive care they need to have the best chance at a full recovery.”

“Part of what distinguishes a comprehensive stroke center from other facilities is its diagnostic capabilities and advanced treatments for routine brain attacks as well as complex stroke cases,” said Oliver Dold, MD, Medical Director of the DMH Brain & Stroke Center.

The DMH Brain & Stroke Center includes a multidisciplinary team of physicians from emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, vascular surgery and neurointerventional radiology as well as specialized nursing, radiology and various rehabilitation services.

Having immediate access to specially-trained medical professionals and the latest technology to diagnose and treat strokes can often mean the difference between full recovery and long-term disability or even death. DMH now joins a select group of hospitals across the state that provides the most advanced comprehensive stroke care available.

The certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program – the nation’s first – in 2003.

As part of its Stroke Center Designation, DMH will work with local ambulance companies and area physicians to ensure the general public recognizes the warning signs of stroke and the importance of seeking immediate medical treatment. Stroke warning signs include: sudden confusion, slurred speech or difficulty understanding; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache without cause. Community members can call the DMH Brain & Stroke Center at 217-876-FAST (3278) to request a free informational packet about stroke awareness and prevention.

The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

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