Inova Alexandria Hospital Earns Recertification as a Primary Stroke Center

Alexandria, VA – June 16, 2016 – The Joint Commission recently recertified Inova Alexandria Hospital as a Primary Stroke Center, indicating that the hospital’s services provide patients with the best chance of survival, minimize the results of a stroke and improve recovery. Inova Alexandria Hospital was one of the first hospitals in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for stroke care, which recognizes facilities that make exceptional efforts to meet the unique needs of stroke patients and foster better outcomes.

To earn recertification, the hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review of its stroke care practices and results. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement. According to the Joint Commission, the hospital thoroughly demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients.

Primary stroke centers use a standard method of delivering care, tailor treatment to individual needs, promote the flow of information across settings and providers, analyze performance data to continually improve treatment and demonstrate compliance with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association clinical practice guidelines.

“Inova Alexandria Hospital is proud to receive recertification from The Joint Commission for our specialized treatment of stroke patients,” said Susan Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, Inova Alexandria Hospital. “Recertification not only highlights the exceptional stroke care we provide, but also underscores our role as a leader in continually advancing stroke treatment in the community.”

Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. Stroke is the fourth 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.

For more information about stroke treatment at Inova hospitals, visit www.inova.org/stroke.

Media Contact: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org