OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center further establishes its position as the number one hospital for stroke and aneurysm care in Rockford with DNV-GL reaccreditation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. OSF Saint Anthony was the first hospital to receive Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) designation in the Rockford region in 2018 and is now the longest accredited hospital in the Rockford area for stroke and aneurysm care.
DNV-GL is a surveying, accrediting body, that partners for safer health care, providing quality driven accreditation and clinical excellence certifications to America’s hospitals. The DNV-GL Comprehensive Stroke Center Recertification is the result of a thorough two-day audit at OSF Saint Anthony. This audit reviewed all aspects of the well-established comprehensive stroke program and all related treatments at OSF Saint Anthony.
“This is important to the region and the people of Rockford,” said Sue Fischer, vice president of ambulatory and procedural services for OSF Saint Anthony. “We provide the latest and best technological advances in health care. So, if you have a loved one or family member suffering from a stroke or brain aneurysm, you want them to be brought to OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center.”
A Comprehensive Stroke Center like OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center has the capability of providing the most specialized care for patients with complex strokes, 24/7 – 365 days per year. OSF Saint Anthony cares for patients with all types of stroke – blood vessel blockages, as well as hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes – often caused by ruptured brain aneurysms. “Being a Comprehensive Stroke Center means we provide the latest, cutting-edge, evidence-based, quality care to stroke and brain aneurysm patients,” said Dr. Ayman Gheith, co-medical director of neuro intervention at OSF Saint Anthony.
Patients have 24/7 access to minimally invasive catheter procedures to treat strokes. In 2017 OSF Saint Anthony invested $4 million in a state-of-the-art neuro-intervention suite, a dedicated neuro-intervention team and thorough stroke treatment protocols. The neuro-intervention surgical suite allows surgeons to capture 3-D imaging of vasculature leading to, and within the brain, and is further utilized to treat ruptured and non-ruptured brain aneurysms safely.
The neuro-intervention suite also enables physicians to accurately see the blood clot causing the stroke and treat it safely and effectively by entering the brain with a catheter and removing the clot. If this procedure is performed soon after the patient’s symptoms occur, the procedure can prevent the more serious effects of stroke and greatly improve recovery.
Additionally, the Comprehensive Stroke Center designation indicates OSF Saint Anthony has a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit for stroke patients, as well as a robust team of neurovascular and neurosurgical providers. These features allow OSF to support outlying primary stroke centers across the region.
“OSF HealthCare is dedicated to providing the highest quality health care from the most experienced and qualified medical professionals and staff in the region,” said OSF Saint Anthony President Paula Carynski. “This designation shows our commitment to that Mission for those we serve.”