Ocala Regional Medical Center (ORMC) receives stroke center certification.
From door to needle (the recommended time from patient arrival at a hospital to treatment), every minute counts at a hospital. Now Ocala Health’s ORMC has become a front-runner in the race against the clock for stroke patient care. In early January, the hospital became a certified stroke center. The designation, which was received from Det Norske Veritas Healthcare, Inc. (DNV GL), is based on comprehensive treatment, diagnosis, rehabilitation and education. DNV GL works with healthcare providers, national and regional health authorities and key stakeholders around the world to improve healthcare quality and facilitate the provision of safe, patient-centered care. It provides quality driven accreditation and clinical excellence certifications to America’s hospitals.
“By earning this national accreditation from GNV DL, it really shows the commitment that we place on quality, improvement and patient care,” states Lauren Debick, director of public relations and communications for Ocala Health.
A comprehensive center distinguishes itself from a primary stroke center in the services it offers, Debick says. It boils down to the hospital’s resources, accessibility and quick actions to reduce the effects of a stroke. ORMC boasts access to expert neurosurgeons, its investment in high-quality imaging equipment and continued education for nursing staff. Staff members also ensure that patients can recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke before it happens.
The acronym FAST is often used to encapsulate stroke symptoms, which stands for facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties and time to call for emergency medical service.
The hospital serves patients in Marion, Sumter, Citrus and Lake Counties. Now, people suffering from brain clots and hemorrhages can receive immediate care closer to home.
For more information, visit www.ocalahealthsystem.com
