Lakewood Hospital Named To Ohio's Top Three For Stroke Care

LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stroke Center at Lakewood Hospital has been named a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) -- a distinction earned by only three hospitals in the State of Ohio.

"We are pleased to be recognized by the Joint Commission for the care provided to our stroke patients," said Fred DeGrandis, chief executive officer of Lakewood Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic Health System - Western Region. "This achievement demonstrates to the community that the quality of care we provide meets the unique and specialized needs of a stroke patient. It helps us carry out our mission of being the best place to receive care."

Obtaining the certification signifies that the Lakewood Hospital stroke program meets stringent criteria required by the Joint Commission and that the hospital underwent a comprehensive on-site evaluation. JCAHO reviewed the stroke procedures used by the hospital, which include the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association guidelines.

"Our Stroke Center has many facets," said V. Richard Stelzer, Jr., CHE, chief administrative officer of Lakewood Hospital. "The Stroke Team is comprised not only of specially trained physicians but also specially trained nurses. It also includes physical, occupational and speech therapists; rehab specialists that help stroke victims regain quality of life; state-of-the-art radiology and biometric support services that enable our doctors to diagnose the cause and location of the clot so that treatment can be initiated early and correctly; and the Neuro Integrated Care Unit (NICU) where stroke patients are monitored and treated."

Lakewood Hospital also has developed an extensive community education program to increase the awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke. Emergency services and emergency room triage are also critical parts of the hospital's continuum of care for stroke victims.

"We want to express sincere gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all of our staff. It is because of their dedication that we are able to provide the highest quality of care for our patients every day," said DeGrandis.

This is the fourth time in the last 13 months that Lakewood has been honored for its stroke program. In September 2003, neurologist Arthur P. Dick, M.D. and neurosurgeon Michael J. Mervart, M.D. received the Champion of Quality Award from the Cleveland Clinic Health System for their success in making the Lakewood Hospital Stroke Team the most successful in the rapid evaluation, timely diagnosis and effective treatment of strokes. In December 2003, Lakewood Hospital, as part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System, was awarded the Ernest A. Codman award by JCAHO to recognize excellence in the use of outcomes measurement by health care organizations to achieve improvements in the quality and safety of health care. In June 2004, Lakewood Hospital's Neuro Integrated Care Unit was featured in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. "NICU: The 'I' Stands for Integrated", was written by Bernadette Revta, RN. The article discusses ways in which Lakewood's NICU improved patient satisfaction, treatment and outcomes.

Lakewood Hospital is one of three hospitals within the State of Ohio to obtain the JCAHO stroke certification. Only 68 health care organizations

within the United States have been certified as primary stroke centers to date.

Founded in 1907, Lakewood Hospital is a 400-bed acute care, community- oriented hospital located in the heart of Cleveland's West Shore community. Lakewood Hospital offers a wide range of health services and education programs for women, men and children. Each year, Lakewood Hospital provides high-quality and innovative patient care for more than 130,000 patients. In 1997, Lakewood Hospital became part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System, a partnership between the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and nine community hospitals. http://www.lakewoodhospital.org/

CONTACT: Debbie Gaebelein of Lakewood Hospital, +1-216-529-7419

Web site: http://www.lakewoodhospital.org/