Baptist Health Louisville awarded Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification

June 14, 2021

To qualify for this honor, hospitals must demonstrate clinical excellence in all facets of ischemic stroke care.

Louisville, KY, June 14, 2021 – Baptist Health Louisville has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification.

Baptist Health Louisville underwent a rigorous, unannounced review on March 18 and 19, 2021.  During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards including program management, performance measurement, and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted observations and interviews.

“Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Baptist Health Louisville for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke  patients.”

“We congratulate Baptist Health Louisville for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

To qualify for this honor, hospitals must demonstrate clinical excellence in all facets of ischemic stroke care.  This includes quickly administering clot-busting medication to eligible patients as well as performing an emergent procedure to restore adequate blood flow to the brain.

“Baptist Health Louisville is excited to earn this distinction as a Joint Commission certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center. This speaks to the quality, hard work and dedication of our team,” said Dr. James “Ben” Thornton, Baptist Health Louisville’s stroke medical director. “We look forward to continuing to raise the bar for stroke care in the community and are committed to moving forward to advance the care and services we provide.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.