Atlanta Medical Center’s Stroke Program recently earned the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s (JCAHO) Primary Stroke Center Certification following an on-site review last month.

“Atlanta Medical Center believes that this comprehensive, independent evaluation enhances the quality of care we provide to our stroke patients. We’re proud of this achievement,” says William T. Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Atlanta Medical Center. “It means that we’re doing the right things to treat stroke and that we’re doing them well for stroke patients.”

Stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death. Each year, approximately 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke. On average, someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the nation and about 4/7 million stroke survivors are alive today.

Launched in 2003, the JCAHO Primary Stroke Center Certification was the nation’s first certification program. JCAHO’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations of the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke. The JCAHO seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through health care accreditation and related services supporting the performance of more than 15,000 healthcare organizations.

Atlanta Medical Center created a multidisciplinary team that worked for a year to organize its stroke program. The team was comprised of physicians, nurses, rehabilitation staff and administrative team members. The team developed best practice standing orders, designated a unit in the hospital to treat stroke patients and implemented policies and procedures for the stroke unit in accordance with national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

Since its founding in 1901, Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) has been serving the medical needs of the community and the region. The 460-bed tertiary care hospital, which is part of Tenet Georgia, is located at 303 Parkway Drive in Atlanta, Ga. Specialties include advanced surgery, cardiology, neurology, oncology, women’s health, orthopedics, trauma and rehabilitation. The Level II trauma center is supported by aeromedical services providing immediate transportation to critical patients throughout the state.  The hospital campus also comprises a comprehensive cancer center, a Specialty Clinic, Sheffield HealthCare, a neighborhood community health center, as well as the Wellness Center, which houses the Highland Athletic Club, Atlanta Weight Loss Center and outpatient rehabilitation program.  Atlanta Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Atlanta Medical Center, visit www.atlantamedcenter.com.

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