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Quick Facts:
Springfield
After more than two years of focused-work, Mercy Hospital Springfield has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, which makes it one of only seven hospitals in Missouri to earn this certification and one of just 214 in the country.
“This is the highest level of certification a hospital can earn for its stroke program,” said Chelsea Heilman, vice president of patient services at Mercy Springfield Communities. “We’ve always provided this level of stroke care, and about three years ago, we made it a goal to earn this prestigious certification so the patients who come to us for care from all over the Ozarks would know immediately they were being cared for by the best.”
To become an advanced comprehensive stroke center, Mercy Hospital Springfield underwent a rigorous on-site review. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted on-site observations and interviews.
“The Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer for The Joint Commission.
There are four Joint Commission stroke certifications a hospital can earn including Acute Stroke Ready Hospital, Primary Stoke Center, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center.
“I know our teams are incredibly proud to have earned this,” Heilman said. “And they should be. We couldn’t provide this level of care without everyone being committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for our stroke patients. Every single one of our caregivers from the emergency department up to our nurses and our neuro-hospitalists all play a crucial role with our stroke patients. To get the best outcome for the patient, the entire hospital has to be on the same page, which is hard to achieve
Mercy’s team of dedicated stroke navigators walk alongside patients from the moment they enter the ED to the time they’re discharged, and every second matters when it comes to a stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
A stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain. When the oxygen is restricted, brain cells begin to die, which is why Mercy focuses on an interdisciplinary approach that ensures multiple teams involved in a stroke patient’s care are communicating effectively and efficiently.
“Door to needle time is critical,” said Dr. Brenton Coger, an endovascular neurosurgeon and the medical director of the stroke program at Mercy Hospital Springfield. “In 2024, 91.2% of our stroke patients got care within 60 minutes of coming to our ED. This team is so passionate about this patient population and making sure they get the very best care, and we’re seeing an increase in the number of strokes we treat, which is another reason it was important to earn this certification.”
In 2024, Mercy Hospital Springfield treated 2,879 stroke patients. That’s a 23% increase over 2023. “While it feels great to meet our goal of becoming an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center, our work doesn’t stop here,” Heilman said. “We will continue to elevate our care and continue our stroke research and community support network for stroke survivors. There’s still so much we can do to increase a patient’s chance of survival or reduce the disabilities they face after a stroke.”
