Desert Springs Attains National Stroke Recognition

"Desert Springs 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, The 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're proud to achieve the distinction," Desert Springs Hospital CEO Sam Kaufman said. "The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center certification recognizes Desert Springs Hospital's commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and community. This complements our other national recognitions that demonstrate our commitment to high-quality patient care."

Desert Springs Hospital earned this distinction after The Joint Commission conducted an on-site review of the hospital's stroke policies and procedures.

"The certification demonstrates Desert Springs Hospital's pledge to meet the healthcare needs of southern Nevada while raising the bar," said Billie Meador, RN, MS, CCRN, CNS, CNRN , Desert Springs' Stroke Coordinator.

The Joint Commission's primary stroke center certification program 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 nation's first program of its kind in 2003. A comprehensive list of programs certified by The Joint Commission is available for review on The Joint Commission's Web site.