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Home » News » Critical Care Trifecta: RUMC Earns National Accreditations for Advanced Cardiac and Stroke Care. Hospital Recognized by American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and The Joint Commission

Critical Care Trifecta: RUMC Earns National Accreditations for Advanced Cardiac and Stroke Care. Hospital Recognized by American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and The Joint Commission

September 1, 2021
Richmond University Medical Center

Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) continues to earn top honors from national accrediting organizations for its critical healthcare services. The hospital, which has served Staten Island and surrounding communities for over 116 years, earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for advanced primary stroke care as well as the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus award. At the same time, RUMC also received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline-STEMI Receiving Center bronze achievement award.

“Every second counts when you’re dealing with the victim of a stroke or heart attack. Our entire medical team, from our EMTs to our physicians and nurses, are the very best at what they do. These national accreditations are a testament to their skill, experience, and commitment. Our community could not be in better hands when an emergency strikes. I want to thank the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, and The Joint Commission for their recognition of our team’s continuous dedication to helping those in need,” RUMC President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, said.

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal is a nationally recognized symbol of quality that reflects RUMC’s continuing commitment to providing safe and quality care for stroke patients. RUMC was awarded the accreditation after demonstrating continuous compliance with the commission’s performance standards. RUMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review in July of this year, during which a team of Commission reviewers evaluated the hospital’s stroke program management, the delivery and facilitation of clinical care, and the support provided to patients in their aftercare. The Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, patients and service providers from across the country. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews before awarding RUMC the Commission’s highest level of accreditation.

“Advanced primary 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 at The Joint Commission. “We commend Richmond University Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”

In addition to earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal, RUMC also earned The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke GoldPlus award for its continuous commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. The Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program was developed to assist healthcare professionals by providing the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients.

“RUMC’s leading edge treatments can greatly reduce the disabilities caused by strokes,” RUMC Chief of Neurology, Allan Perel, MD, said. “It is critical for people in the community to be aware if someone is having symptoms of a stroke, such as slurred speech, weakness, dizziness, and blurred vision. If these symptoms are present, they should seek medical attention immediately. Our services at RUMC, backed by these latest accreditations from the AHA/ASA and The Joint Commission, are helping stroke patients live better lives.”

RUMC also earned the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline-STEMI Receiving Center bronze achievement award for implementing specific measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication. RUMC earned the recognition by demonstrating how the hospital provides prompt treatment, starting from when 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge.

“As cardiologists say ‘time is muscle.’ This is a short phrase that summarizes the urgency required in the treatment of a heart attack,” RUMC Chair of Cardiology, Francesco Rotatori, MD, said. “The certification given to RUMC by the American Heart Association recognizes the amazing effort that the staff has provided in the community. It takes a collaborative effect –  from our EMS staff to the personnel in the emergency department, cath lab, and the cardiac care unit – to act in a timely fashion to minimize the detrimental immediate and long-term effects of a heart attack. Once more this certification shows the dedication and hard work that the RUMC staff provides to make a positive impact on our community’s health.”

According to data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the rate of deaths in Staten Island caused by heart disease exceeds that of the other boroughs in New York City and the nation. High blood pressure is a significant contributor to heart disease death. Nearly 1 in 3 adults in Staten Island experience high blood pressure. Several types of heart disease, including coronary heart disease, or CHD, are also risk factors for stroke. CHD is characterized by the buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries. Staten Island has a higher rate of CHD deaths than all other New York City boroughs and the nation. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. 

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Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), is a not-for-profit healthcare provider serving the ethnically diverse community of Staten Island and its neighbors. We provide premier-quality patient care through a full spectrum of emergent, acute, primary, behavioral health and educational services. We do this in an environment that promotes the highest satisfaction among patients, families, physicians and staff. For more information call 1-718-818-1234 or visit www.rumcsi.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for advanced primary stroke care as well as the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus award. 

At the same time, RUMC also received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline-STEMI Receiving Center bronze achievement award.

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Alex Lutz

Assistant Vice President,  Public Relations & Marketing