Following a rigorous application process taking more than 18 months, Riverside Health System is proud to announce that its tertiary care hospital, Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC), has been designated a Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV GL Healthcare.
Riverside becomes one of only three comprehensive stroke centers in Virginia, the other two being located in Richmond, at Virginia Commonwealth University and HCA Johnston-Willis Hospital. Comprehensive Stroke Center is the highest level that can be achieved by a stroke-care program under DNV GL Healthcare certification.
DNV GL Healthcare is a leading accreditor of hospitals and health systems in the United States. The DNV GL stroke certification program incorporates elements from the NIAHO hospital accreditation standards, requiring applicants to meet the Recommendations of the American Stroke Association and the Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition. The emphasis these programs place on deploying a disciplined management system, combined with relevant clinical best practices, sets DNV GL stroke certifications apart from other programs.
Throughout the certification process, DNV reviewed actual and potential Riverside patient outcomes, assessed the care and services provided, including the appropriateness of the care and services within the context of the certification requirements, visited patient care settings, including inpatient units, outpatient settings, emergency departments, imaging, rehabilitation, remote locations, satellites, etc. associated with the center;and reviewed pertinent clinical records, staff records, and other documentation.
The Comprehensive Stroke Center designation acknowledges RRMC as consistently providing the most advanced stroke treatment available, including the personnel, infrastructure, and expertise to diagnose and treat stroke patients who require intensive medical and surgical care, specialized tests, and/or interventional therapies. Its focus is on the adult population who suffer from any form of cerebrovascular disease (TIA, ischemic stroke, hemorrhage), including patients requiring specialized testing or therapies (e.g., endovascular, surgery) and those requiring multispecialty management. Riverside's evidence-based, timely care is evidenced by markedly improved outcomes.
Riverside and its health care affiliates now provide access to unparalleled stroke care for the more than 1.7 million people of greater Hampton Roads and beyond. This represents the first time that population will have access to this level of care, which previously required travel to Richmond or further. This proximity is vital, as every second is critical to stroke treatment and outcome. Complex strokes and other neurologic cases require the unprecedented precision and expertise of Riverside's neurosciences department, which has long been recognized as the community's premier referral facility.
"Riverside Health Systems' unwavering commitment to the care of stroke patients has been formally recognized with the achievement of Comprehensive Stroke Center designation," says John N. Livingstone, MD, Riverside's Stroke Program Medical Director. "This serves to assure our patients and families that they can rest in complete confidence that we provide the highest quality standard of stroke care available."
"Riverside's neurosciences team is committed to providing the highest level of care to stroke patients in our region. We congratulate the team on receiving the first Comprehensive Stroke Center designation in Tidewater," said Mike Doucette, Senior Vice President and Administrator Riverside Regional Medical Center. "First responders, to our physicians, nursing and ancillary staff, the Riverside neurosciences team continues to be recognized for its exceptional level of quality patient care and compassion provided to our patients."
About Riverside Health System
A regional leader in providing health care since 1916, Riverside Health System seeks to deliver care and services - as a team- by putting patients and residents at the center of all operations. Riverside delivers a variety of health care services and programs in the areas of prevention, acute care, aging-related services, rehabilitation, ambulatory care, diagnostic care, education, and home care.
The Riverside Health System operates five acute care hospitals, a psychiatric hospital, and the largest freestanding physical rehabilitation hospital in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its extensive Medical Group includes more than 540 providers. Ambulatory centers bring diagnostic services, physical therapy, day surgery and other services to neighborhoods served by Riverside.
The company employs more than 9,400 team members in offices throughout Eastern Virginia.
About DNV GK Healthcare
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, DNV GL Healthcare is part of Det Norske Veritas, a global independent foundation dedicated to safeguarding life, property and the environment. DNV accredits acute care and critical access hospitals, and also provides Comprehensive as well as Primary Stroke Center and Acute Stroke Ready certifications.
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