•general health FEATURE
WHEN MINUTES MATTER,
SECONDS COUNT Rockdale Medical earns stroke treatment center certification
sure RMC tailors the treatments to each patient’s particular situation and
requirements, such as collecting Joint Commission core measure data and
needs. The certification also checked that stroke patients are offered ways to
using it for performance improvement activities.
self-manage their disease.
Developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association and
The Joint Commission also checked various behind-the-scenes programs,
launched in 2003, The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification
such as ensuring that medical records transfer properly when a patient sees
program is based on the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the
different doctors or therapists.
Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers.” Certification is available only to
RMC underwent a rigorous on-site reviewin December, and is required
stroke programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals such as
to update the Joint Commission on its practices. A Joint Commission expert
RMC.
reviewed RMC’s compliance with the requirements for The Joint Commission’s
RMC is a 138-bed acute-care hospital at 1412 Milstead Ave. in Conyers.
Disease-Specific Care Certification program as well as primary stroke center
By Staff Reports
R
ockdale Medical Center recently earned a high certification as a stroke
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists and case managers,
treatment center from The Joint Commission, meaning local stroke
collaborates on patient care throughout the treatment process.”
patients have a higher chance of getting treatment within the critical “golden
“I also want to acknowledge the commitment of our partner, National
hour.”
EMS, for their role in helping Rockdale Medical Center to achieve Primary
Previously, stroke patients being transported by ambulance would have
Stroke Certification,” Armstrong said. “Many times they are the first line of
to be taken all the way to downtown Atlanta to the closest stroke treatment
patient care and are able to identify a stroke, or stroke symptoms, while in the
center, as required by law – a trip that could take 30 minutes or more.
field. Having this information before the patient arrives at the hospital mean
Each minute without treatment during a stroke means more brain matter
our Emergency Department personnel save valuable minutes in treatment
dies.
time.”
Being able to bring patients to RMC “means we’re saving more brain and
RMC will be able to display The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval,
preventing disability,” said Dr. Bryan Riggeal, neurologist and director of the
their Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Displaying the seal
Stroke Program at RMC, which started in December 2012.
signifies that RMC is providing the “next generation of stroke care,” and will
“You can come to your local community hospital for stroke treatment
help patients easily identify this facility as one of quality that has surpassed
and care without having to drive out of town,” said Karen Young, R.N. and
numerous goals in the treatment of stroke.
director of RMC’s Emergency Room, who has had family members impacted
“In achieving Joint Commission advanced certification, Rockdale Medical
by strokes. “The medication you can receive for certain types of strokes, you
Center has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its
can now receive faster… It’s important for the public to know they can come
stroke patients,” said Jean Range, executive director of The Joint Commission’s
straight here.”
Disease-Specific Care Certification, in a press release. “Certification is a volun-
Having certification also means a team of doctors, specialized nurses, ther-
tary process and The Joint Commission commends Rockdale Medical Center
apists, dieticians, pharmacists and more is mobilized when a stroke patient
for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and
is admitted to the stroke ward. About third of stroke survivors experience an-
instill confidence in the community it serves.”
other stroke, but wrap-around services like these often result in more effective
The Joint Commission, the organization that accredits hospitals, recognized
lifestyle changes in the patient and fewer additional strokes said Riggeal.
RMC with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. That means RMC
“The ability to provide excellent care is a result of outstanding teamwork,”
has demonstrated that its program meets critical elements of performance to
said RMC CEO Deborah Armstrong. “Under the direction of Dr. Brian Riggeal,
achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.
neurologist/Stroke Program Director, and Emergency Department Director/
The Joint Commission made sure that RMC stroke patients are offered
Stroke Coordinator Karen Young, R.N., an in-house stroke team, made up of
treatments that match a medical industry standard program. But it also made
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HIR SPRING 2014.indd 20-21
“The stroke certification team from Rockdale Medical Center and National EMS worked for more than a year to earn accreditation as a stroke center from The Joint Commission.”
SPRING 2014 | HEALTHY IN ROCKDALE
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