Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospital Recognized as a Certified Primary Stroke Center

Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospital has once again been recognized as a Primary Stroke Center by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), demonstrating its commitment to providing exceptional patient care and outcomes.

To achieve this designation, healthcare organizations must demonstrate a higher level of proficiency and compliance in stroke prevention, early management and treatment. This includes meeting rigorous national standards for medication management, patient assessment, quality and performance improvement and risk management.

“This designation is a testament to our team’s commitment to providing high-quality care,” said Alyssa Tomsey, DO, Stroke Center Medical Director at Butler Memorial Hospital. “From the moment a patient arrives in the emergency department, our staff works seamlessly together to provide timely and effective treatment. We are proud of the team’s dedication to stroke care and the collaborative efforts it takes to achieve this certification.”

Stroke is the fifth cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association. Early detection and treatment are key factors in improving survival rates, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery time. Butler Memorial Hospital’s Primary Stroke Center designation ensures that patients receive the highest level of care.

Independence Health System Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals are also certified Primary Stroke Centers through The Joint Commission, demonstrating the organization’s dedication to providing comprehensive and coordinated stroke care across its network. The System treats more than 1,000 patients for stroke annually.

Independence Health System also participates in the American Heart Association’s Get-with-the-Guidelines (GWTG) Stroke quality improvement program, earning numerous awards for adhering to best practices and providing exemplary stroke care. Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals joined the GWTG initiative in 2005, and Butler Memorial joined in 2006. Since 2006, almost 17,000 patients have been treated through the System’s Stroke Centers and GWTG program.

The ACHC is a nonprofit accrediting organization, providing accreditation services since 1986. The accreditation process includes a three-year cycle of continuous monitoring to ensure healthcare organizations maintain best practices in quality stroke care.

For more information about Independence Health System and its stroke program, please visit www.independence.health.

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Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and 7,300 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning more than 10 counties.

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health