Stroke Center at BIDMC Awarded Advanced Certification

BOSTON – The Stroke Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers. With this certification, the Comprehensive Stroke Center at BIDMC joins an elite group of health care organizations recognized for their focus on highly-specialized stroke care. 

“BIDMC is thrilled to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as it’s a reflection of the extraordinary care we’re committed to providing our patients,” said Magdy Selim, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 

BIDMC’s stroke center underwent a rigorous two-day onsite review when Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements. To be eligible for The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Comprehensive Stroke Centers, hospitals must demonstrate compliance with stroke-related standards as a Primary Stroke Center and meet additional requirements such as advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and providing staff with the unique education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients. 

"By achieving this advanced certification, BIDMC has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of its patients with a complex stroke condition,” says Mark R. Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and CEO, The Joint Commission. “Certification is a voluntary process and The Joint Commission commends BIDMC for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate the standard of its care for the community it serves.” 

BIDMC’s stroke center, which was among the first wave of primary stroke centers to be certified by the Massachusetts Department of Health in 2005, offers patients immediate access to a team of stroke specialists who are renowned for unique research in areas such as acute stroke treatment and imaging, brain recovery, brain aneurysms, and intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain). Its TeleNet: Stroke service offers participating community hospitals around-the-clock access to direct and immediate video consultation with BIDMC’s stroke neurology experts. 

In addition, BIDMC's stroke support groups offer patients, their families and caregivers opportunities to learn from the BIDMC medical team and each other about living with the effects of a stroke. Each meeting includes presentations from the Boston medical community about emerging stroke research and positive changes patients can make to enhance post-stroke recovery.

“The stroke center here at BIDMC has gone above and beyond to ensure the highest quality and safest care for our patients – day in and day out,” said Jillian Tellier, RN, Comprehensive Stroke Program Clinical Coordinator at BIDMC. “This certification provides us with the framework to create a true culture of excellence.”

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. 

“The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association congratulates BIDMC on achieving Comprehensive Stroke Center certification,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “Meeting the standards for Comprehensive Stroke Center certification represents a commitment to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”