Tulane Medical Center earns stroke center recertification

New Orleans — Tulane Medical Center has again earned comprehensive stroke certification from The Joint Commission, reflecting the hospital's highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events.

Developed in collaboration with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, the certification recognizes the hospital's ability to treat the most complex stroke patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"We believe there is no better place in the region to treat strokes and their side effects than Tulane Medical Center," said Dr. Aaron Dumont of the Tulane Neuroscience Center. "But this level of care doesn't occur without significant, intentional work on the parts of several people. I appreciate the leadership of our vice president of neuroscience services Olivia Fleming, stroke program coordinator Krystal Gettys, and our unparalleled provider team that includes nurse practitioners Olivia Cornu and Erica Lee Williams, Dr. Peter Amenta, Dr. Aimee Aysenne, Dr. John Freiberg, Dr. John Nerva and Dr. Justin Salerian."

Tulane Medical Center was initially the first hospital in Orleans Parish to earn this certification.

To earn recertification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the Tulane stroke program underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review, during which a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated the hospital's compliance with related certification standards. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

As a comprehensive stroke center, Tulane Medical Center brings together experts from the Tulane University School of Medicine with multidisciplinary-trained nurses and staff, a neuro-intensive care unit, advanced imaging, post-hospital care and access to stroke research and clinical trials.

"I am proud of the work our team has done to build this stroke program, and it is gratifying to see that work recognized with this recertification," said Dr. Bob Lynch, Tulane Health System's acting CEO. "But I am even more appreciative of what this means for our patients and community. This means stroke patients will continue to receive the best care, have the best outcomes and experience the fewest side effects possible."

The comprehensive stroke certification recognizes hospitals that meet standards to treat the most complex stroke cases and who develop a formal referral network to ensure the most complicated cases are treated by the centers equipped to provide this specialized care, ultimately leading to better outcomes.

Specifically, the comprehensive stroke certification recognizes hospitals that meet rigorous standards of performing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a surgical procedure to remove a vein clot, endovascular coiling and microsurgical clipping. The certification requires that an acute stroke team, neurosurgical services and dedicated intensive care beds are available 24/7 for acute ischemic stroke patients and the team can be at a bedside within 15 minutes, while being able to support two patients simultaneously.

"We congratulate Tulane Medical Center for this outstanding achievement," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Stroke Association. "This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients."

Learn more about Tulane Health System's stroke care.