Mercy Hospital Joplin Receives Stroke Certification

JOPLIN, Mo. (April 30, 2019) – Mercy Hospital Joplin earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.

To receive this certification, Mercy Hospital Joplin underwent a rigorous onsite review in spring 2019. During this time, Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, delivery of clinical care and performance improvement. Mercy Joplin is the first hospital in the Four State Area to receive this distinction.  

“Mercy Hospital Joplin has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Mercy Hospital Joplin for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”

Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011).

“Mercy Hospital Joplin is pleased to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association,” said Nora Cannon, executive director of cardiovascular and imaging at Mercy Hospital Joplin. “The certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide as well as to continually strive to advance our care even further.”

The Joint Commission, a not-for-profit organization, accredits and certifies health care organizations nationwide for the highest quality in patient and safety standards.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Mercy Joplin includes Mercy Hospital Joplin, a new hospital with the latest technology, unprecedented “storm-hardened” features and 240 beds, as well as 82 clinic and outpatient locations and more than 100 physicians. It’s part of Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy's IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.