Stroke / What This Mean to You

Only 55 healthcare centers in the entire country have been certified as primary stroke centers.

"This means PMC has earned a gold seal of approval for providing the highest quality stroke care," said George Mikitarian, PMC president and chief executive officer. "It further demonstrates that PMC continues to fulfill its promise to provide the best possible health care anywhere and that we are working every day to make that care even better."

Stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain suddenly bursts or becomes blocked, is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States.

"Joint Commission's disease-specific care certification assures patients and their families that the Primary Stroke Center is committed to quality and safety excellence," said Maureen Connors Potter, executive director of the Disease-Specific Care Certification Program of the Joint Commission. "It is the Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality and safety."

"What this designation offers the public is a way to identify which hospitals offer the best possible outcomes for stroke patients," said Chris McAlpine, senior vice president administration and professional services for Parrish Medical Center.

"The Joint Commission certification requires a rigorous two-stage review," said Sheryl O'Connor, PMC director for quality and risk management, "Parrish Medical Center was evaluated on national standards and stringent performance measures recommended by the Joint Commission."

"Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. The care of stroke patients will be greatly enhanced with the availability of new drug therapies, including the clot busting agent tPA in certain appropriate patient populations as well as our constantly improving knowledge in stroke prevention and education. The certified stroke center at PMC enables a concentrated and efficient way to deliver this service to the community," said PMC Neurologist Albino Kuon, M.D.

"About 85 percent of strokes are due to a blood clot blocking a blood vessel to the brain," added Steven Schwartz, D.O. medical director for emergency medicine at PMC.

"When tPA is given within a few minutes of stroke onset, we can often dissolve the clot and restore the blood flow. If things go well, the patient has minimal or no neurological damage from the stroke," said Dr. Schwartz.

"Many hospitals have still not set up stroke treatment teams and appropriate protocols to insure rapid administration of tPA to eligible patients," explained Ara Deukmedjian, M.D., PMC neurosurgeon.

"Our team approach to stroke care, which includes prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, is what sets us apart," said Dr. Deukmedjian.

PMC's team approach extends beyond the medical center’s walls to include north Brevard’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.

"Partnering with PMC's emergency department and entire stroke team, ensures that life-saving measures are provided to patients at the scene in the first few minutes of a stroke," said Alex Kracun, Operations Chief for Titusville’s Emergency Medical Services.

The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association's statements/guidelines for stroke care.