Preston Memorial Hospital first in West Virginia to be named acute stroke ready by Joint Commission

Preston Memorial Hospital will be the first hospital in West Virginia to add the Acute Stroke Ready certification to its list of accolades.

In June, PMH underwent an extensive survey evaluation by The Joint Commission to determine readiness for the certification. Joint Commission certified acute stroke ready hospitals are required to collect data for five standardized performance measures. Monthly data points must be submitted every quarter.

"Our hospital team as been working together for over a year to provide best practice, life-saving practices that are needed to improve outcomes for patients suffering from stroke," said Melissa Lockwood, President and CEO of Preston Memorial Hospital. "As a community hospital, our primary focus is meeting the health care needs of our community. Being stroke ready is one of the best ways that we can serve our patients."

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. The Joint Commission Acute Stroke Ready Hospital Certification Program was developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and launched in July 2015. Standardized performance measure requirements were introduced beginning with discharges on and after Jan. 1, 2018.

President and CEO of Mon Health System, David Goldberg said, "Our entire system commends the Preston Memorial Hospital staff for the expert quality care demonstrated in this leading service. We applaud our Preston Memorial Hospital clinicians, colleagues and community supporters for making sure highest quality care and services are close to home and coordinated with our System to blaze the trail in West Virginia including coordinated tele-stroke delivery."