HEALTH CARE
North Houston-area hospitals earn, seek stroke center certi cations
BY HANNAH BROL
loss of brain function or even death,” Silvera said. “By having the highest level of stroke care in their backyard, patients do not lose valuable time being transported to another facility.” Silvera noted the stroke certi cations are awarded by accrediting organization Det Norske Veritas and typically take two to three years to obtain. To earn the certi cation, an organization must also rst earn a primary stroke center certi cation through DNV or The Joint Commission. Neighboring medical provider HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest earned its stroke certi cation in November following a “rigorous on-site review” Sept. 16, according to a Nov. 9 news release. “This comprehensive stroke center service will be a tremendous bene t to the community we serve in providing high-quality care to patients with strokes and other neurological
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is seeking to earn its comprehensive stroke center certi cation by the end of this year—a designation only one other area hospital has earned, hospital o cials said. Melissa Silvera, the neuroscience service line director at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, said earning this certi cation means an organization is equipped to evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency care and interventional therapies to all patients with acute stroke symptoms, and that it has the ability to admit patients to dedicated stroke units. Silvera said Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has been operating at the required level since January 2022. “During a stroke, every second that passes means more brain tissue dies, potentially leading to irreparable
As part of the comprehensive stroke center certi cation process, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital opened a new interventional radiology suite in November.
COURTESY HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL
conditions,” said Scott Davis, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, in a statement. As part of Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital’s e orts to earn its stroke certi cation, Silvera said the hospital opened a new interventional radiology suite in November, which is primarily used to perform thrombectomies—a minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots from arteries and veins that cause a stroke. The hospital also now has a dedicated
neuro intensive care unit that is sta ed by teams who specialize in stroke and neurosurgery cases. As of press time, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital’s DNV application had been formally surveyors determine the hospital meets all the criteria for the stroke certi cation, an o cial certi cation will be awarded roughly six to eight weeks after the site visit. accepted, and its site visit is scheduled for Sept. 28-29. If
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