STEVENS POINT, Wis. – For the first time, Aspirus Stevens Point 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’s 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 Stevens Point 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 Stevens Point 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 an incredible recognition, said Amy Weeks, BSN-RN, Stroke Coordinator for Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital. “I am grateful to our wonderful team of staff and physicians, who are dedicated to providing lifesaving education and treatment to save lives in our community. Our Stroke Team is committed to providing education and awareness to our patients and our community regarding stroke recognition and to providing time-sensitive stroke care based on best practices and guidelines.”
The Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital Stroke 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 Stroke Team uses this knowledge, along with clinical practice guidelines, to proactively collaborate with all Aspirus providers to offer patient education and resources.
Time is of the utmost importance. The faster a stroke can be treated, the better the outcome. The Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital Stroke Team 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 Stevens Point Hospital, visit aspirus.org.
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About Aspirus: Aspirus Health is a nonprofit, community-directed health system based in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The health system operates 18 hospitals and 130 outpatient locations with nearly 14,000 team members, including 1,300 employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Learn more at aspirus.org.
Photo: Representatives of Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital’s Stroke Team display the hospital’s Acute Stroke Ready Certification (from left) Sara Bauman, BSN-RN, Manager of Nursing – Emergency; Amy Weeks, BSN-RN, Stroke Coordinator; and Stephanie Taylor, RN, Quality Improvement Coordinator.