Press Releases: Southern California
June 11, 2012
Kaiser Permanente South Bay Awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission
HARBOR CITY, Calif. — The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, recently recognized Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Achievement of Primary Stroke Center Certification signifies an organization’s dedication to fostering better outcomes for patients. Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center’s Primary Stroke Center Certification was awarded based on the center’s ability to meet critical elements of performance, which are necessary to achieving long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.
The certification followed a rigorous on-site review conducted earlier this year. A Joint Commission expert reviewed Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center’s compliance with the requirements for The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification program as well as primary stroke center requirements, such as collecting Joint Commission core measure data and using it for performance improvement activities.
“In achieving Joint Commission advanced certification, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its stroke patients,” says Jean Range, MS, RN, CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “Certification is a voluntary process and The Joint Commission commends South Bay Medical Center for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”
Developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association and launched in 2003, The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification program is based on the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers.” Certification is available only to stroke programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.
“Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality stroke care centered on current scientific research to ensure continued improvement in treatment,” said Douglas J. Killion, MD, area medical director. “In addition to our Joint Commission accreditation, the Primary Stroke Center Certification has given us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients, while helping us to improve care overall for our community.”
Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center will be able to display The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ and the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark for their Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Displaying the seal and Heart-Check mark signifies that Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center has achieved the highest level of quality care in the nation for the treatment of stroke and heart failure.
About The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks 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. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 10,300 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,500 other health care organizations that provide long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission currently certifies more than 2,000 disease-specific care programs, focused on the care of patients with chronic illnesses such as stroke, joint replacement, stroke rehabilitation, heart failure and many others. The Joint Commission also provides health care staffing services certification for more than 750 staffing offices. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
About Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 3.5 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter
