Stroke Centers at Baptist Downtown and Baptist South Earn Primary Stroke Center Certification
Hospitals Surveyed by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in December

Jacksonville, Florida, February 28, 2007 -- The Stroke Centers at Baptist Medical Center Downtown and Baptist Medical Center South have earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ for stroke care. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has awarded Baptist Downtown and Baptist South with Primary Stroke Center Certification following an on-site review in December. This certification is based on recommendations published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association.

"Baptist Health demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients," says Charles A. Mowll, executive vice president, Business Development, Government, and External Relations, Joint Commission.

The Baptist Stroke Centers were developed in response to the growing need in Northeast Florida for the diagnosis and treatment of patients who are at risk for or have already suffered from stroke. "This is one of the most rapidly growing areas of the state and thousands of people move here who are in the high-risk category for stroke, primarily because of age," says Sean Orr, MD, medical director of the Stroke Centers. "To meet this growing need, Baptist developed protocols for stroke that are based on national standards of care. This assures that patients throughout the community have access to the best quality of care in the event of a stroke."

The Baptist Stroke Centers are designed to provide patients with rapid diagnosis and treatment by a specially trained "Code Stroke" team which includes emergency medicine physicians, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, specialized nurses and rehabilitation specialists. This team works closely with many other medical professionals, including Baptist Health medical and surgical specialists, nurses and technicians; Life Flight, Baptist Health's air ambulance service; and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). By Florida law, EMS personnel are directed to transport patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms to a Primary Stroke Center.

"Baptist looked at all aspects of this process and reached out to the 911 response community to get a better understanding of what we do and how we do it," says Charles E. Moreland, AS, AND, BBA, MS, MPA, division chief of Rescue for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue. "The overall approach from planning, organization, collecting data and the collaborative involvement of all stakeholders, in my opinion, speaks highly of the organization and they are deserving of this designation."

Stroke Facts

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. Therefore, quick intervention is necessary to minimize damage to the brain and even prevent death.

Each year about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death.

On average, someone suffers a stroke ever 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

Local Stroke Statistics In 2006, 448 patients who met the state criteria of a "Stroke Alert" were transported to area hospitals. More than 90 percent were transported to Shands Jacksonville or St. Luke's Hospital, the only other JCAHO-certified primary stroke centers in Northeast Florida. (Data provided by Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department)

From July 2005 - June 2006, there were 3,137 inpatient (hospital) discharges among residents of the five-county metropolitan area for stroke and transient ischemic attack (transient stroke) (defined as Diagnosis-Related Groups, or DRGs, 14, 15, 524 and 559).

Symptoms of a Stroke

Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden severe headache

If one or more of these occur, act fast and call 911.