Mercy Health - Springfield Regional Medical Center is proud to announce it has earned certification from The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Care.

“Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability, so it is vital to the health of our community that we provide high-quality stroke care here in Clark and Champaign Counties and this certification is proof of that commitment,” said Chase Collins, Director of Neurosciences for Mercy Health - Springfield. “I want to recognize the physicians and staff members who work tirelessly day in and day out to ensure our patients get the best possible care.”

The certification comes after a rigorous, on-site review in which a team of Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement. This certification will last through 2025.

“Primary Stroke Certification recognizes healthcare 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, The Joint Commission. “We commend Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center 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.”

On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke every four minutes. Around 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

The most common stroke symptoms can be remembered using the BE FAST acronym:

  • Balance issues
  • Eyes, including loss of vision, double vision, or blurred vision
  • Facial Droop
  • Arm Weakness
  • Speech Difficulty, such as slurring words or becoming very confused
  • Time to Call 911!

Learn more about the stroke treatment and care we provide at Mercy Health.