According to The Joint Commission, “The Certificate of Distinction
for Primary Stroke Centers recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts
to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Programs applying for advanced
certification must meet the requirements for Disease-Specific Care Certification
plus additional, clinically specific requirements and expectations.”
“This designation recognizes our commitment to quality care,”
said Angela Whisenant, RN, BSN, Stroke Program Coordinator. “Our
goal is to give both hope and assistance to those who have suffered a
stroke, and to help those in our community who have been touched by stroke.
Our Stroke Program offers services led by a group of medical professionals
who specialize in stroke care, and work together to diagnose, treat and
provide early rehabilitation of stroke patients. They are cared for in
designated stroke units equipped with the latest medical technology for
stroke care. With new diagnostic tools in emergency medicine, including
a stroke robot in collaboration with the Wake Forest University Baptist
Medical Center Department of Neurology, CVMC’s Emergency Department
has made advances to effectively take care of stroke patients in a timely
manner 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
CVMC’s Stroke Team is comprised of a Physical Therapist, Occupational
Therapist, Speech-Language Pathologist, Rehabilitation Patient Care Coordinator,
Pharmacist, EMS Staff, Performance Improvement, Patient Care Coordinators
and Clinical Development Coordinators, as well as the Medical Director
for Stroke, and the Emergency Department Medical Director. In addition
to Whisenant, the core team members are Danielle Thurman, RN, BSN, Emergency
Department Liaison/Stroke Program and Robert Yapundich, MD, Neurologist,
Stroke Program Medical Director.
Stroke care experts from The Joint Commission conduct on-site certification
reviews based on three areas: evaluation of standards, clinical practice
guidelines and performance measurement activities. Initial certification
is granted for a one-year period. Following a first-year review, on-site
visits occur every two years and bi-annual assessments of compliance are
submitted to remain certified, according to The Joint Commission.
About Catawba Valley Medical Center
Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest
not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without
direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving
as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine
and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American
Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized with three Women’s
Choice Awards, being named one of America’s Best 100 Hospitals for
Patient Experience in 2012, a 2013 Best Hospital for Patient Experience
in Obstetrics and one of America’s Best Hospitals in Orthopedics
in 2013 by WomenCertified®. For more information, please visit
http://www.catawbavalleymedical.org.