Centra recently earned the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Association Heart-Check mark as a Certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) for Lynchburg General Hospital (LGH). This is a Joint Commission Disease Specific accreditation that is significant because it is based upon a hospital’s ability to provide interventions and clinically advanced care for patients with acute stroke.
LGH underwent a rigorous, on-site review earlier this month by a representative from the Joint Commission. During the survey, LGH’s stroke care teams provided the surveyor with information and examples of evidence-based measures including identification of stroke that includes large vessel occlusions, appropriate treatment of stroke and perceptions of the patient’s experience.
Previously, LGH was considered a Primary Stroke Center (PSC) by the Joint Commission. Through this new accreditation, our stroke teams have demonstrated their commitment and ability to consistently provide neurointensive and 24/7 on-site critical care that is considered best practice because it ensures prompt intervention and optimal care.
TSCs provide all the services of PSCs but with the added capability of performing mechanical thrombectomy which is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that removes blood clots from arteries in the brain.
A key aspect of becoming a TSC is having a team of nurses who receive additional education related to stroke care on an annual basis and who ensure the swift and efficient assessment and management of stroke patients. At Centra, this team is known as the Code Stroke Nurses. Working closely with the emergency department team, neurologists and radiologists, they facilitate timely interventions, rapid response protocols and correct collaboration across care teams.
Centra's achievement of the Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) Certification serves as a tangible testament to the system's proactive approach in addressing the health conditions and concerns identified in the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment. Given that stroke and heart disease consistently rank among the top health condition concerns in central Virginia, Centra's capacity to deliver timely access to lifesaving, comprehensive treatment has become all the more essential.
