The SSM Neurosciences Institute at St. Joseph Health Center has earned the Gold Seal of Approval ™ from The Joint Commission and has been recertified as a primary stroke center.During a rigorous on-site review June 25, Joint Commission examiners found SSM St. Joseph Health Center fully compliant with all certification requirements including standards of care, clinical practice guidelines and performance measures.“St. Joseph Health Center is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality stroke care based on current scientific research to ensure continued improvement in treatment,” said Gaspare Calvaruso, president of St. Joseph Health Center. “The primary stroke center certification has given us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients. I’d like to thank our physicians, staff, and EMS partners for their outstanding work in helping us improve stroke care across St. Charles County.”In 2011, St. Joseph Health Center was the first hospital in St. Charles County to earn Primary Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission, a distinction only 14 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved."In achieving Joint Commission advanced certification, St. Joseph Health Center has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its stroke patients,” says Jean Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q. executive director of disease-specific care certification for The Joint Commission. “Certification is a voluntary process and The Joint Commission commends St. Joseph Health Center for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States and is the nation’s four-leading cause of death. Approximately 700,000 people experience a stroke annually, with 4.7 million stroke survivors in the U.S. today.St. Joseph Health Center has made significant investments in state-of-the-art technology and stroke treatment capabilities; advanced imaging technology assists physicians in quickly diagnosing stroke and initiating treatment.The Joint Commission’s primary stroke center certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association statements and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program in 2003 and a list of certified programs is available at www.jointcommission.org.