Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has received certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) – the highest available level – from The Joint Commission, a prestigious international accrediting organization.

The Camden hospital has earned the commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Comprehensive Stroke Care by demonstrating continuous compliance with the commission’s performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality patient care.

“Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification is the most demanding stroke certification. It’s for hospitals that have specific abilities to treat the most complex stroke cases,” said Lisa Ferraro, senior vice president of Virtua Health and president of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

“It means that Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital meets the highest standards for stroke care, across each point along the continuum of care,” she added. “And it reflects our commitment to safe, high-quality care for every patient.”

CSC certification includes the ability to perform thrombectomy, a vital intervention. This minimally invasive procedure removes blood clots from the brain, which improves outcomes for patients whose stroke is caused by blockages in large blood vessels. Such “ischemic” strokes account for 87% of all strokes.

The Joint Commission also requires CSC-certified hospitals to provide quality treatment for aneurysm (a bulge in the wall of an artery) and less common types of strokes caused by bleeding in the brain: aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (aSAH) and intracerebral hemorrhages (hemorrhagic strokes).

The hospital’s stroke care is provided by the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Neurosciences Program, featuring the region's foremost leaders in neurological treatment and research, right here in South Jersey. Additionally, the hospital’s Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit provides specialized care for people recovering from stroke and other brain-related conditions.

“At Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes, the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health neurovascular team uses state-of-the-art techniques to treat stroke and minimize long-lasting damage,” said Dr. Melissa Bailey, medical director of the hospital’s stroke program and a Penn Medicine neurologist.

These include microsurgery and other approaches to remove stroke-causing blood clots, stop bleeding in the brain, or open a blocked carotid artery. The neurology, neurosurgery, neurointensivist, and neurointerventional team is available around the clock to diagnose and treat the most severe strokes, Dr. Bailey added.

The Joint Commission’s certification “recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer for The Joint Commission.

“We commend Virtua for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served,” he stated.

The Joint Commission’s evaluation process includes a rigorous, onsite review and observation, as well as extensive collection of data; procedure, process and policy review; and staff interviews. The commission partnered with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to develop its comprehensive, evidence-based package of stroke certifications. This partnership provides the highest national standards for safe, high-quality stroke care, Virtua’s Ferraro noted.

Previously, Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes held advanced stroke certification through the State of New Jersey. A change in state law now requires stroke centers to obtain certification from national accreditation bodies such as The Joint Commission.

"This certification is the latest recognition of the advanced capabilities of Virtua Neurosciences,” said Ferraro, citing a recent honor in Becker’s Hospital Review, among others.

“Our dedicated subspecialists address an array of complex needs,” she emphasized. “By partnering with Penn Neurosurgeons, we offer advanced brain, spine, and vascular surgery related to neurologic conditions.”

For more information:

• Stroke | Virtua Health – Stroke care at Virtua, including warning signs of stroke.
• Virtua Health Neurosciences Program – Complete neurological treatments, including emergency stroke care, brain tumor care, vascular microsurgery, spine surgery, and more.
• Jesse Randolph’s story – A former stroke patient discusses his experience and treatment at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, including his life-saving emergency thrombectomy.
• jointcommission.org – Learn more about this independent, evidence-based, standards-setting organization for the health care field.