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 The nonprofit hospital’s certification as a comprehensive stroke
center, a level of care achieved by less than 100 of the nation’s
5,600 hospitals, recognizes Memorial for its ability to provide
expert around-the-clock care for the most complex stroke patients.
Memorial Medical Center treats an estimated 800 stroke cases
annually. Of the seven Illinois hospitals to achieve the
comprehensive stroke designation, Memorial is one of only two
hospitals outside of the Chicago region.
“When treating stroke, every second counts,” said Charles Callahan,
executive vice president and chief operating officer of Memorial
Health System. “As the only comprehensive stroke center serving the
southern half of Illinois, Memorial is committed to providing the
best level of care for stroke, from the emergency department to
rehabilitation.”
The certification means that Memorial has highly qualified
physicians in key medical specialties (including neurology,
neurosurgery, diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology, and
emergency medicine), hospital staff with unique and ongoing
training, and the latest technology to provide each patient with a
full spectrum of treatment options and interventions, Callahan said.
Memorial’s comprehensive interdisciplinary stroke team has the
capability to quickly evaluate stroke symptoms using advanced
medical imaging and deliver time-sensitive treatments and procedures
to prevent death and life-altering disabilities, including those
available only under specialized research protocols. The stroke team
at Memorial Medical Center includes board-certified physicians and
surgeons from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine,
Clinical Radiologists, Mid-America Emergency Physicians and
Springfield Clinic, in addition to healthcare professionals from a
variety of clinical disciplines.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of
adult disability in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department
of Public Health.
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Memorial Medical Center has been accredited by The Joint Commission as a primary
stroke center since 2010.
The Joint Commission’s requirements for a comprehensive stroke center include
having the infrastructure, staff and training resources to provide
state-of-the-art care to all stroke patients; providing a dedicated
neurointensive care unit with round-the-clock neurointensive care for complex
stroke patients; and using advanced imaging capabilities. These comprehensive
stroke center requirements were developed in collaboration with the American
Heart Association/American Stroke Association and a group of national stroke
experts as the standard for the highest level of stroke care.
“We are extremely proud of the dedication and expertise of Memorial’s stroke
team, of their achievement in attaining this elite national designation as a
comprehensive stroke center, and the opportunity to provide the highest level of
stroke care to the patients, families and communities we serve,” Callahan said.
[Michael Leathers, Memorial Health
Systems]
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