Regions Hospital Stroke Program Awarded Joint Commission Certification

Market Wire, October, 2007

Regions Hospital has been awarded Primary Stroke Certification by the Joint Commission. Regions earned this distinction following an on-site review of the hospital's stroke care program in August. To receive certification, Regions demonstrated that its program follows national standards designed to significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

"Regions has a long history of providing excellent care to stroke patients," said Brock Nelson, president and CEO of Regions Hospital. "This certification demonstrates our commitment to providing outstanding stroke care including prevention, prompt diagnosis and specialized treatment. The people in the communities we serve will receive the best possible stroke care at Regions, beginning with their initial emergency room visit through their rehabilitation."

In 2006, Regions treated nearly 400 stroke patients in its Emergency Center, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Regions stroke experts believe these numbers could continue to climb, in part, because of an aging population. The hospital will continue its focus on providing outstanding acute care to its stroke patients and educating the public about the risk factors and signs of stroke.

Regions provides stroke care 24/7 to patients including neuro-interventional procedures such as aneurysm repair and carotid angioplasty, as well as imaging scans, neurology evaluations and the delivery of clot-busting medications. Neurosurgeons are also available around the clock to perform life-saving surgeries.

The Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association's statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program -- the nation's first -- in 2003. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org .

Regions Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a private, non-profit hospital providing outstanding care in women's health, heart, cancer, surgery, orthopaedics, neuroscience, burn, emergency care and more. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Additional information is available at regionshospital.com.

Contact: Kelli Trask (651) 629-0411 pager kelli.k.trask@healthpartners.com