Central Maine Medical Center has been recognized for providing advanced primary stroke care, earning certification from the Joint Commission after a rigorous inspection last month.
The accreditation, which evaluates quality and safety in the hospital’s delivery of critical services and patient care, recognizes CMMC’s continuous commitment to improvement in delivering the highest standard of care.
Reviewers from the Joint Commission—the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body—noted points of excellence in CMMC care that included provider leadership and multidisciplinary efforts across the stroke care team. The hospital had among the top positive patient outcomes in the country, and the reviewers called CMMC’s stroke care team “among the leading programs in the nation.”
“This certification is a huge recognition of our spectacular stroke team, and a vote of confidence in the high quality of care and safety that Central Maine Medical Center offers all of our patients,” said Dr. David Tupponce, President of the hospital and Executive Vice President of Central Maine Healthcare. “Stroke is a serious problem, and we know that the right care immediately following signs of stroke, and attentive follow-up, can make all the difference. We’re proud that our providers and entire care team are making that difference every day.”
There are nearly 7 million stroke survivors in the United States, where stroke is the fifth leading cause of death. Central Maine Medical Center treats more than 200 stroke cases annually.
“We are continually working to improve and expand our high-quality care,” said Dr. Hunter Sweet, DO. “We’re thrilled with this honor confirming our commitment to our patients. Recently, a patient we saw with early signs of stroke had a complete recovery after being treated with a clot-busting agent. That’s how we measure success.”
Most stroke patients come into the hospital through the emergency room, where CMMC providers can quickly test and treat the condition. CMMC recently named a new Medical Director for Emergency Care. Dr. Michael Blake, who has been an emergency physician with CMMC for eight years, is nationally board certified in emergency medicine and has a deep background in public health issues.
Successful patient outcomes often require teamwork and partnership, and stroke care is no different. A patient in Bridgton Hospital’s emergency department was recently under observation for trans-ischemic attack, an early sign of stroke. When his condition worsened, the Bridgton Hospital team, in consultation with Central Maine Healthcare’s partner Massachusetts General Hospital, administered clot-busting drugs in under 10 minutes, stabilizing the patient, who recovered at Central Maine Medical Center under the stroke team’s care.
“That episode of stroke could have been deadly, but quick action and partnership changed the course,” Tupponce said.
The federal Centers for Disease Control says that patients who are seen and treated quickly have better chances at positive outcomes. For more information about stroke, go here.
The Joint Commission has accredited hospitals for more than 60 years and currently, more 4,000 hospitals nationwide maintain Joint Commission accreditation. CMMC’s accreditation is an initial certification, and the hospital will have a recertification inspection every two years going forward.
