Good Samaritan Hospital Receives Joint Commission Certification for the Care of Both Heart Attack and Stroke Patients
Programs are accredited following rigorous JCAHO inspections.
Suffern, NY (PRWEB) January 22, 2007
Good Samaritan Hospital has again earned the Gold Seal of Approval for both the Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) and Management of Stroke from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
The certification was awarded following an extensive on-site review of the hospital's emergency medicine protocols, systems and procedures for heart attack and stroke patients by the prestigious health care rating body.
The Joint Commission's Disease Specific Care Certification is designed to evaluate disease management and chronic care services provided in health care settings. This certification acknowledges that Good Samaritan has met the highest quality national standards for the treatment of patients who visit the emergency department with a heart attack or stroke.
"Good Samaritan Hospital has shown its commitment to the constant improvement of cardiac and stroke care in the Lower Hudson Valley as seen through these JCAHO certifications, and the soon-to-open Active International Cardiovascular Institute," said Michael Schnieders, Executive Vice President and Administrator of Good Samaritan Hospital. "These designations uphold our promise of increased expertise in patient care."
The re-certification for acute myocardial infarction follows closely on the heels of the dedication of the hospital's Active International Cardiovascular Institute, a state-of-the-art comprehensive cardiac and vascular surgical and care center, and the first program of its kind in the Lower Hudson Valley. In January, 2005, Good Samaritan Hospital became the first hospital in the nation to earn Disease Specific Care Certification for the management of acute myocardial infarction.
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/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program -- the nation's first -- in 2003. The Stroke Center at Good Samaritan Hospital is also recognized as a Primary Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health. Good Samaritan Hospital was the first hospital in New York State to earn both JCAHO Primary Stroke Center certification, along with state designation as a Primary Stroke Center.
"This award highlights the rising quality of specialized healthcare services offered at Good Samaritan, and our Stroke Program serves as a primary example," said Stuart Lestch, M. D., a neurologist and director of the Stroke Program at Good Samaritan Hospital. "The dedication of our stroke team to provide patients with around-the-clock care and use of the most advanced therapies results in strong patient outcomes and warrants this acknowledgement from JCAHO."
Formed in 1951, JCAHO is dedicated to improving the quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation of hospitals and other health care organizations. JCAHO develops state-of-the-art standards and evaluates the compliance of health care organizations to those standards.
JCAHO accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to meeting the highest performance standards. To earn and maintain accreditation, an organization must undergo an extensive on-site survey by a JCAHO survey team.
Good Samaritan Hospital is a member of Bon Secours Health System Inc., one of the nation's leading Catholic healthcare systems. It is also part of the regional Bon Secours Charity Health System, which includes St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, N. Y. and Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, N. Y. Additionally, Bon Secours Charity Health System provides the services of a Certified Home Health Agency, two long-term care facilities, an assisted living and adult home facility and several other medical programs. For more information about cardiac services, or any other program, contact Good Samaritan Hospital at 845-368-5000 or www. GoodSamHosp. org.
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