UAB Medicine has taken a major step toward building a comprehensive stroke care network, thanks to UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham being designated as Alabama’s newest Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. This means that community residents will have better access to specialized stroke care.
Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the stroke mortality rate in the Southeast is higher than in the rest of the country. This led to the region being called the “Stroke Belt”.
“I’m very proud of the team; they put in tremendous effort to get this designation,” said UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham Chief Medical Officer Jeremy Lindley, D.O. “This signifies our hospital’s commitment to provide high-quality, evidence-based care, leading to faster treatment and better outcomes.”
Collaborative effort
UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham earned the designation after a successful evaluation by the Joint Commission, an independent national organization that certifies health systems across the country through accreditation programs.
As part of the rigorous review process for stroke, the hospital had to demonstrate structured performance improvements that were shaped through a partnership with UAB Hospital, which in 2015 became the first Comprehensive Stroke Center in Alabama. This is similar to the Primary Stroke Center designation but has even more requirements.
“It was a collective effort,” said UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham Clinical Service Line Director Edward Pair, MSN, RN, CPHQ. “Being side by side with UAB Hospital helped us broaden our knowledge on stroke care and take even better care of our patients.”
Those improvements included appointing a dedicated stroke medical director, building a formal quality-improvement structure, selecting research-based clinical practice guidelines, and establishing a clear process for maintaining 24/7 stroke readiness.
“To get to this designation, everyone has been trained with continual process improvements, to make sure that every team member knows exactly what to do when a patient presents with stroke symptoms,” Dr. Lindley said.
“Every second counts during a stroke, and our processes are designed to protect brain function and improve outcomes,” Pair added.
Expanding care
The designation reflects the hospital’s dedicated resources, rapid access to CT imaging to quickly determine treatment options, a stroke response team, and specialized nursing care. With this accreditation, UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham now has 44 beds designated for stroke care.
“Our goal is to remain proactive, engaged, and intentional in delivering the highest quality stroke care for every patient who comes through our doors,” Pair said.
But this is just the start. UAB Medicine is working to continue expanding the stroke infrastructure across the health system, which includes UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham. Processes are being strengthened, and care is being streamlined and expanded.
“Becoming a Primary Stroke Center is a monumental effort, and by adding our hospital, we can complement UAB Hospital and develop a fully fleshed out stroke care network,” said UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham neurologist Brian Perrin, M.D. “We’re raising the bar and committing ourselves to practice the highest level of stroke care that we can each and every day, with the goal of serving our community and building on our legacy of care.”
Pair says growing his hospital’s stroke capabilities as part of a unified health system will elevate the quality of care for patients in the immediate community and across the state.
“Together, we are building a stronger, more connected stroke network that ensures patients receive timely, expert care, wherever they enter the UAB Medicine,” Pair said.