VALHALLA, N.Y. (July 21, 2020) – Westchester Medical Center has been certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, a designation that represents the most advanced stroke treatment available in a given geographic area*. With this certification, Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), is now the only hospital in New York's Hudson Valley region recognized by the New York State Department of Health as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Access to immediate, expert care as soon as possible after stroke symptoms appear is vital. In fact, the critical period to obtain treatment that can mitigate or prevent long-term disability or death immediately after a stroke is referred to as the "golden hour" by the American Stroke Association. Through Westchester Medical Center's certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, emergency medical service responders and Hudson Valley residents have access to the highest quality of care for the most complex cases, according to DNV GL Healthcare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid-approved accreditation organization that certified Westchester Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Westchester Medical Center encourages the public to learn more about stroke symptoms and to call 911 immediately if someone shows signs of a possible stroke. Emergency medical services can be directed to bring a stroke victim to a Comprehensive Stroke Center for expert care, if transport is safe for the individual.
To make a non-emergent appointment with one of Westchester Medical Center's stroke specialists, call (914) 493-2363.
Why a Comprehensive Stroke Center is Best for Care
As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, Westchester Medical Center is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. (Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots and hemorrhagic strokes result from ruptured blood vessels.)
Westchester Medical Center offers neuroendovascular and other neurointerventional services 24 hours a day, seven days a week along with around-the-clock neurocritical care, neurosurgery and vascular neurology. The hospital's stroke care experts have access to the latest medical technologies for stroke diagnosis and treatment and, in order to provide the highest standards of inpatient care, Westchester Medical Center has intensive care, step-down and general patient units dedicated to neuroscience patients and stroke treatment. Westchester Medical Center also provides stroke rehabilitation services on campus with stroke support groups and other services available for stroke outpatients.
Additionally, Westchester Medical Center serves as a resource for stroke education and prevention. WMCHealth has a long-term Academic Affiliation Agreement with New York Medical College, hosts professional, stroke-centric learning events for clinical specialists and is also active in the community with stroke education.
WMCHealth Stroke Care in the Hudson Valley
Westchester Medical Center works in collaboration with other WMCHealth member hospitals to administer timely stroke care to Hudson Valley residents. WMCHealth's Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie and HealthAlliance Hospital on Broadway in Kingston are all designated by the New York State Department of Health as Primary Stroke Centers, and each hospital was recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in 2019 with its Get with The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.
Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification
DNV GL Healthcare's Comprehensive Stroke Center certification process includes a review of patient outcomes, an assessment of program care and services, in-person visits to patient care settings and a validation that includes clinical and staff record review. The certification process also includes meeting requirements from the Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition and Recommendations of the American Stroke Association.