Martin Memorial Again Named a Primary Stroke Center by Joint Commission

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and one of the most common causes of disability. However, the damage can often be minimized if medical care is provided quickly by highly trained clinical staff.

To help ensure patients who suffer from stroke receive the best treatment possible, Martin Memorial recently retained certification as a primary stroke center. Martin Memorial was surveyed this fall by The Joint Commission – an organization that evaluates and accredits health care providers – and recently received official notification that it had again achieved certification.

The Joint Commission certifies hospitals that meet national standards and performance measurement expectations. The commission’s certification program was developed along with the American Stroke Association.

Martin Memorial initially received certification in November 2007. To retain certification, hospitals are surveyed on site every two years.

“Stroke patients who are cared for in a primary stroke center have better outcomes with less variation in care, so there are less debilitating after-effects,” said Jason Stabley, DO, medical director of neuroscience services at Martin Memorial. “This program has been a tremendous benefit for the community, providing not only exceptional acute-care treatment, but also valuable information about stroke prevention and the need to seek immediate medical care when a stroke occurs. Those are valuable tools in mitigating the damage of stroke.”

That includes understanding risk factors that can lead to stroke, as well as knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke. While some risk factors – such as age, family history, race, or gender – can’t be controlled, others can. Among those risk factors are high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases, cigarette smoking, diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol.

And because there is a limited window of opportunity to provide effective medical treatment, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke. The American Stroke Association lists these five signs that someone is having a stroke:

· Sudden numbness or weakness – especially on one side of the body – of the face, arms or legs
· Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
· Sudden loss of balance, dizziness or trouble walking
· Sudden severe headaches with no known cause or origin