For the first time, Aspirus Ironwood Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark for Acute Stroke Ready Certification.
To earn the certification, the hospital underwent a rigorous, onsite review in July. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers conducted observations and interviews and evaluated the hospital’s compliance with related certification standards including program management, processes for delivering clinical care, and performance improvement – standards that are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients.
“Acute Stroke Ready Certification recognizes a health care organization committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, Executive Vice President of Accreditation and Certification Operations and Chief Nursing Officer with The Joint Commission. “We commend Aspirus Ironwood Hospital for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality, and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
“We congratulate Aspirus Ironwood Hospital for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”
"Achieving Acute Stroke Ready Certification is a remarkable accomplishment," said Julie Monville, Director of Nursing for Aspirus Health. "I am incredibly proud of our dedicated team of staff and physicians who work tirelessly to deliver lifesaving education and treatment to our community. Our Stroke Team remains committed to educating both our patients and the public on stroke recognition, as well as providing timely, evidence-based stroke care in accordance with best practices and guidelines."
The Ironwood Hospital Team represents multiple hospital disciplines whose efforts strive to provide extraordinary outcomes for each patient they treat, knowing that every stroke journey is unique. Crucial to the Stroke Team’s readiness is their continuous education and knowledge of community risk factors leading to stroke, such as high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. The Team uses this knowledge, along with clinical practice guidelines, to proactively collaborate with all Aspirus providers to offer patient education and resources.
"Achieving Acute Stroke Ready Certification is a significant milestone for Aspirus Health," said Rae Kaare, Chief Administrative Officer. "This recognition reflects the dedication and expertise of our staff and physicians, who are committed to providing the highest standard of care to our community. We are proud of our team's continued efforts to deliver timely, effective stroke care and to raise awareness about the importance of early recognition and intervention.
Time is of the utmost importance. The faster a stroke can be treated, the better the outcome. Aspirus Health encourages everyone to use BE FAST to recognize the signs of a stroke:
- Balance; sudden loss of coordination
- Eyes; sudden change in vision
- Face; sudden weakness on one side or facial droop
- Arm; sudden arm or leg numbness or weakness
- Speech; sudden slurred speech
- Terrible Headache or Time to call 9-1-1
If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of a stroke, immediately call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. For more information about stroke care or other services offered by Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, visit aspirus.org.