McLeod Health Clarendon announces that it has received recertification affirming the hospital is equipped to provide care to patients with acute stroke symptoms who seek life-saving treatment from the emergency department. The certification granted by DNV GL Healthcare, designates McLeod Health Clarendon as Acute Stroke Ready.
McLeod Health Clarendon is one of five McLeod hospitals that achieved Acute Stroke Ready designation. Other McLeod hospitals are: McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast.
DNV is a certification body that helps hospitals achieve excellence by improving quality and safety through hospital accreditation.
“This certification lets our community know that we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible stroke care,” says Debbie Mixson, RN, Stroke Coordinator for McLeod Health Clarendon. “It’s a combination of the right equipment, personnel and training to quickly assess, identify and treat strokes quickly. This includes the ability to efficiently transfer patients in the instances they require treatment beyond our capabilities. Achieving certification validates the tremendous effort we have put into this program, ensuring the health and safety of our patients.”
The DNV Acute Stroke Ready (ASR) Certification is derived from evidenced-based standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association and affirms that McLeod Health Clarendon addresses the initial diagnosis, initial treatment and when necessary, facilitates quick transfer to a specialized stroke center with a higher spectrum of stroke care.
Acute Stroke Ready hospitals are designed to be part of a larger stroke system of care. For any stroke patient needing ongoing care after the initial treatment that care would be provided within the McLeod Health system at the Primary Stroke Center, McLeod Regional Medical Center. McLeod became the first hospital in the region to become a certified Primary Stroke Center in 2014.
Committed to the care of the stroke patient, McLeod Regional Medical Center also opened the first Stroke Unit in the region in 2000, a unit dedicated exclusively to the treatment and care of patients who have suffered a stroke. The unit was then expanded to a Neuroscience Care Unit to combine postoperative neurosurgery, thrombectomy and coiling patients with stroke patients in one unit to be able to deliver comprehensive care.
“Achieving certification shows a commitment to excellence,” says Kelly Proctor, President of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. “It helps demonstrate to your community that you are providing the highest level of care that this hospital is designed to offer.”
According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is a leading cause of death, killing nearly 130,000 people each year, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. Because stroke or “brain attack” effects blood flow to the brain, rapid and effective treatment can save lives and provide the best chance of limiting the extent of long-term damage.
“It is essential to help prevent a stroke from occurring by seeking medical treatment quickly at the first onset of symptoms,” said Dr. William Sabina, McLeod Health Clarendon Emergency Department Medical Director. “Everyone should be able to recognize stroke symptoms and act quickly.
"It is a team effort beginning with Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS pre-alerts the Emergency Department so the Stroke Team can be waiting on the patient when they arrive," added Dr. Sabina.
Common stroke symptoms in both men and women include:
F.A.S.T. - If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:
F-FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A-ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S-SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? T-TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
About McLeod Health
Founded in 1906, McLeod Health is a locally owned and managed, not for profit organization supported by the strength of approximately 850 members on its medical staff and more than 2,700 licensed nurses (Registered Nurses; Advanced Practice Nurses – including Certified Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Midwives; as well as Licensed Practical Nurses). McLeod Health is also composed of approximately 9,500 employees and more than 90 physician practices throughout its 18-county service area. With seven hospitals, McLeod Health operates three Health and Fitness Centers, a Sports Medicine and Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, Hospice and Home Health Services. The hospitals within McLeod Health include: McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Loris, McLeod Health Seacoast, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon and McLeod Behavioral Health. On the coast, the McLeod Health Carolina Forest complex has opened an Emergency Department and the first two of seven medical park office buildings as an extension of McLeod Loris Seacoast Hospital.
About DNV GL Healthcare
DNV is a global independent certification, assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, drives innovative solutions.
Whether certifying a company’s management system or products, accrediting hospitals, providing training, assessing supply chains or digital assets, DNV enables customers and stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence, continually improve and realize long-term strategic goals sustainably.
DNV draws on its wide technical and industry expertise to help companies worldwide build consumer and stakeholder trust. Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.
For more information about DNV, visit www.dnvcert.com/healthcare
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