Joint Commission Certificate Honors Exceptional Efforts

Philadelphia, PA, November 20, 2007 ─ Albert Einstein Medical Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for Primary Stroke Centers.  Einstein earned this distinction after the Joint Commission conducted an unannounced on-site review earlier this fall.

“Einstein demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

Each year about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke ever 45 second and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with about 4.7 million stroke survivors alive today.

“We’re proud to achieve the distinction,” says George Newman, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Department of Neurosensory Sciences. “Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes Einstein’s commitment to adhering to the highest national standards and guidelines to significantly improve the outcomes for stroke patients.”

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.

This certification complements the continuum of care afforded to stroke patients by MossRehab, a division of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. MossRehab was one of the first rehabilitation facilities in the nation to receive accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) as a Stroke Specialty Program, a distinction it maintains yet today.

About Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, is a 1,200 bed integrated delivery network serving the communities of North Philadelphia and Montgomery County, PA.  A founding member of the Jefferson Health System, Einstein combines the best of academic medicine and community service, employing nearly 7,000 people, and offering training programs for physician residents and fellows, nurses and other health professionals.  The Network provides healthcare services through the Albert Einstein Medical Center and Einstein at Elkins Park hospitals, its MossRehab and Belmont Behavioral Health divisions, Germantown Community Health Services, Willow Terrace (a nursing home), Willowcrest (a center for subacute care), outpatient facilities such as Center One and Einstein Neighborhood Healthcare, network of primary care and specialist practices throughout the community. For more information, visit www.einstein.edu or call 1-800-EINSTEIN.

About the Joint Commission

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more then 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, the Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about the Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.