Mercy Health — Cincinnati announces that The Jewish Hospital — Mercy Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check Mark as part of its Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center Certification. The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health is proud to be one of only five hospitals in Ohio and the only one in Cincinnati to earn this accreditation.

The Joint Commission began offering this accreditation in 2018 and it is the fourth level of stroke center certification offered by the commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Additional certifications include Acute Stroke Ready, Primary Stroke and Comprehensive Stroke.

“The Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center Certification recognizes our ability provide life-saving care, close to home for complex stroke patients in need of immediate endovascular care.,” said Pat Davis-Hagens, President of The Jewish Hospital. “Congratulations to our associates, who pursue excellence daily to provide our patients with the best possible care.”

The Jewish Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review late last year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers conducted onsite observation and interviews to evaluate compliance with related certification standards.

Reviewers confirmed that The Jewish Hospital met rigorous standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy and for patient’s care following the procedure. Recent studies have shown that mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure to remove blood clots from blood vessels, is effective in treating large vessel occlusive ischemic strokes.

Ischemic stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in western countries and the top cause of long-term disability. Mechanical thrombectomy performed within six hours of when the patient was last well has reduced mortality and improved patient outcomes.

“We congratulate The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”