Valley Presbyterian Hospital Awarded Certification As a Primary Stroke Center

Offers Cutting-edge Technology to Provide Faster Access to Specialists

VAN NUYS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as a Primary Stroke Center and will be leading the way in stroke care by offering cutting-edge technology to provide faster access to specialists for its patients, Gustavo Valdespino, President and CEO of VPH, announced today.

“We are very pleased to receive the Primary Stroke Center Certification from The Joint Commission, a distinction that recognizes Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients,” said Mr. Valdespino. “Valley Presbyterian Hospital is also proud to be the only hospital in the Valley with the latest in advanced telemedicine to make certain stroke patients will have immediate access to neurologists. When every second counts, this cutting-edge technology, which we’ve named ‘RoboDoc,’ enables quicker examinations of patients by specialists to ensure they get the best care possible.”

To achieve the Primary Stroke Center Certification, The Joint Commission requires a neurologist be available around the clock. VPH went one step further with RoboDoc to make certain patients no longer have to wait for specialists to commute to the hospital to examine them. With two-way audio and video communication, RoboDoc makes it possible for the physician to be at another location and examine and speak directly to patients, receive input from the resident medical team and then advise the medical team on treatments and therapies.

“We already had the capacity to care for patients who suffered a stroke in the hospital or came to the emergency room seeking care,” said Stroke Team Medical Director Marco Hernandez, M.D., who leads the stroke team at VPH. “Now that VPH has RoboDoc and its Primary Stroke Center Certification, even more stroke patients will receive care more quickly with better outcomes to be expected.”

Los Angeles’ protocol limited emergency transport of suspected stroke patients to Primary Stroke Centers. With VPH achieving Primary Stroke Certification, suspected stroke patients in the area will have a closer facility where they can be transported for care.

“By achieving certification as a Primary Stroke Center, Valley Presbyterian Hospital has proven that it has the ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims and can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” said Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission conducted an on-site evaluation of VPH and determined that it had demonstrated compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care. The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations of the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association.

Stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. About 795,000 people a year experience a new or recurrent stroke. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes.

About Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Founded in 1958, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, a non-profit and nonsectarian hospital, has remained focused on meeting the medical needs of the community for over 50 years. While VPH has grown to become one of the largest acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley, it continues to provide patient-centered care for a healthier community. The 350-bed facility offers leading-edge technology and a full range of medical services. With 500 physicians representing virtually every specialty and most sub-specialties, VPH provides the latest state-of-the-art treatments to improve and save lives. For more information, visit www.valleypres.org.



CONTACT:

Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Julie Reback
(818) 902-5711
[email protected]
or
Norma O’Flaherty
(818) 902-5213
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  California

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Hospitals  Managed Care

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