The First Certified Stroke Center in the Lehigh Valley

It means you will receive treatment within 80 minutes of your arrival

The Stroke Center recently was re-certified by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which has bestowed this two-year Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality on only 237 hospitals nationwide. The hospital initially earned accreditation in March 2004, becoming the second
stroke center in Pennsylvania to do so. LVH currently is the only hospital in Northeast Pennsylvania with this designation and one of 10 in the Commonwealth.

"We're proud of this achievement," says John Castaldo, M.D., chief of neurology at LVH and medical director of its Stroke Center. "It re-affirms our commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and community. It recognizes the ability of our center to give fast, effective treatment that
improves stroke patients' chances of recovery."

Certification is not just a piece of paper. Certification means that patients can receive the clotbusting drug tPA any time of the day or night within 80 minutes of arrival at the hospital. To deliver brain-saving care this fast, the hospital has a Stroke Rapid Response Team. The team includes emergency services, neurology, radiology and nursing.

To earn Primary Stroke Center Certification, Lehigh Valley Hospital also demonstrated compliance with the recommendations of the Brain Attack Coalition:

• Having acute stroke rapid response treatment teams similar to trauma teams in the U.S.
• Operating inpatient stroke care units
• Using pre-written, detailed stroke care protocols
• Having an integrated emergency response system for managing patients experiencing a stroke, with support services including continuously available brain imaging with interpretation and rapid laboratory testing
• Demonstrating a commitment from administration with strong clinical leadership to providing ongoing community education about stroke risks, symptoms and treatment

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