FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Michelle Aliprantis, MBA
Regional Director of Marketing and Communications
MAliprantis@primehealthcare.com
Suburban Community Hospital Recertification as Primary Stroke Center
by The Joint Commission
East Norriton, PA (June 6, 2023) – Suburban Community Hospital has achieved recertification for The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its primary stroke program. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
Suburban Community Hospital underwent a rigorous unannounced onsite review by The Joint Commission to achieve the re-certification. During the visit, a team of The Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including program management, self-management support, and clinical care delivery. The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Suburban Community has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients with stroke,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Suburban Community Hospital for becoming a leader in primary stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for patients in its community.”
Jim Hazlett, CNO of Suburban Community Hospital, added, “Suburban Community Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for stroke patients in our community.” The re-certification recognizes that our hospital is equipped to treat stroke patients with timely, evidence-based care.”
The American Hospital Association urges patients to know how well-prepared their local hospital is to treat stroke patients. Prompt treatment at the onset of symptoms can minimize brain damage and resulting disability from stroke. However, many physicians are not adequately trained in stroke treatment, and many hospitals do not have neurologists to deal with emergencies around the clock.
According to the American Stroke Association, each year, approximately 700,000 people suffer a stroke-500,000 are first attacks, and 200,000 are recurrent. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of severe and long-term disability in the United States, with 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.
In 2022, Suburban Community Hospital was also awarded the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus: Stroke Honor Roll quality achievement for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
For more information, please visit the Commonwealth Health or Joint Commission website.
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About Suburban Community Hospital: Suburban Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, acute care hospital, and a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. For over 65 years, Suburban Community Hospital has been delivering quality healthcare to Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Suburban Community Hospital, originally named Riverview Hospital, opened in 1944. Chartered at 740 Sandy Street in Norristown, PA, Riverview Osteopathic Hospital would provide medical and surgical services to the sick, afflicted, and injured, and would educate persons in the care and nursing. As part of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Suburban Community Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology.
Prime Healthcare is an award-winning hospital management company operating 45 acute care hospitals in 14 states, including Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bucks County, and Suburban Community Hospital in Montgomery County.
About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a Top 10 and Top 15 Health System by IBM Watson Health. Its hospitals have been named among the nation’s “100 Top Hospitals” 58 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past six years. To learn more, please visit www.primehealthcare.com.
About The Joint Commission: The mission of The Joint Commission is to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.