Garfield Medical Center Designated Approved Stroke Center (ASC)

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ Emergency Medical Services Agency has designated Garfield Medical Center as one of the County’s newest Approved Stroke Centers.

This ASC designation came as a result of Garfield Medical Center’s certification as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. After undergoing an on-site evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, Garfield Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

“In stroke care time is brain,” says Jean E. Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, The Joint Commission. “By achieving certification as a Primary Stroke Center, Garfield Medical Center has proven that it has the ability to provide effective, timely care to stroke victims and can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.”

Each year about 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the nation’s third leading cause of death. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds 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.

Launched in 2003, The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification Program is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke care.

Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency established a new Emergency Stroke System in December 2009. Under this system, ambulances transports suspected stroke patients directly to Approved Stroke Centers in Los Angeles County. These are facilities that are specially stroke-prepared – medically and surgically – and have the mechanisms in place to quickly provide the right treatment. In the past, patients who appeared to be suffering acute strokes would be taken to the closest hospital, which may or may not be staffed and equipped to provide immediate attention.

“We’re proud to achieve the Approved Stroke Center designation,” says Philip A. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Garfield Medical Center. “We are pleased to have Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services and The Joint Commission recognizing our commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients and our community.”

“We are very excited about this important designation for Garfield. It means patients in Monterey Park and surrounding communities transported by the 911 system who meet the criteria for stroke will now be sent directly to Garfield Medical Center, bypassing hospitals that have not had specialized training in stroke care”, says Ken Leasure, Battalion Chief and Paramedics Coordinator at Monterey Park Fire Department. “Our paramedics now have a more immediate access for care for local stroke patients rather than having to transport them to downtown Los Angeles or Stroke Centers even further away. This is a wonderful benefit for Monterey Park and its surrounding communities. ”

Early identification and rapid treatment of stroke is crucial to patient outcomes, because stoke injury worsens as more time passes without treatment. Directed by neurosurgeon Winston C. San Agustin, M.D. and equipped with a panel of neurologists and acute stroke team 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Garfield Medical Center’s Approved Stroke Center will ensure patients receive excellent care in every aspect of stroke treatment. Rapid treatment can mean the difference between the patient becoming impaired and being able to resume normal activities with minor or no damage. It is very important for community residents to call 911 as soon as someone around them begins to show signs of stroke. The following are the signs for stroke:

• Facial droop, uneven smile
• Arm numbness, weakness
• Slurred speech, difficulty speaking or understanding
• Time to cal 911 and get to the nearest approved stroke center immediately

Established in 1927, Garfield Medical Center has just been named the one of the best hospitals in the Los Angeles Metro area by U.S. News and World Report in May 2011. Healthcare rating agency HealthGrades ranked Garfield Medical Center number one in California for Stroke Treatment six years in a row (2006-2011).