St. Joseph’s Hospital-North Earns Prestigious Stroke Cert

LUTZ, FL — St. Joseph’s Hospital-North has received Primary Stroke Certification from DNV GL Healthcare, an international accrediting body that emphasizes clinical best practices and a disciplined management system. The certification earned by St. Joseph’s Hospital-North signifies clinical excellence through diagnosis, stabilization and treatment by the hospital’s stroke team.

In 2019, BayCare, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s parent, began the 18-month rigorous process of having all 12 of its stroke centers certified by DNV GL Healthcare.

Prior to receiving the certification, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North underwent a rigorous review process by DNV GL. A team of DNV GL surveyors observed practices, interviewed teams and reviewed documentation. DNV GL’s survey incorporates standards from the Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition and recommendations from the American Stroke Association.

“Achieving the Primary Stroke Certification from DNV GL Healthcare, requires putting together the best and brightest people with great technology, a high degree of training and the use of evidence-based medicine,” said Tom Garthwaite, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North president. “This certification lets our community know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best stroke care possible and validates all the efforts we have put into ensuring the health and safety of our patients.

The DNV GL Healthcare certification is St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s third significant award for the treatment of strokes and heart attacks in the last nine months.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North earned an award in late 2020 from the Florida Stroke Registry for its ability to rapidly determine the severity and possible location of a stroke. The Stroke Registry also notified St. Joseph’s Hospital-North that it ranked as the best among 121 Florida Stroke Registry hospitals that submitted data to the Registry during the award timeframe.

Also last year, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Award for meeting and exceeding specific standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment of patients suffering heart attacks.