National Stroke Care Certification
In 2010, The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) recertified Forsyth as a Primary Stroke Center. We have held this prestigious certification since 2004, when we became the first medical center in North Carolina to do so. Only hospitals that meet the strict national standards set by The Joint Commission and the American Stroke Association receive this certification.
Gold Plus Quality Achievement
Our stroke program received its second Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association in 2010. In 2009, we became the first stroke program in North Carolina, and one of only 19 in the country, to receive this award, which recognizes hospitals that have continued to meet both organizations' high standards for treating stroke patients during the previous 12 months.
"Quick Look" Protocol for Faster Stroke Treatment
As of April 2010, stroke patients at Forsyth Medical Center were seen by a physician on average within two minutes of arrival at our Emergency Department, received their brain scans within nine minutes and had their brain scan results read within 28 minutes, This fast delivery of care resulted from our "Quick Look" protocol, which means that EMS, emergency room physicians, neurohospitalists and neuroradiologists work as a team to admit, diagnose and treat stroke patients even more quickly than the nationally recommended time frames.
Nationally Accredited Stroke Rehab Program
In 2010, Whitaker Rehabilitation Center at Forsyth Medical Center was recertified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Stroke Specialty Program and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program-Hospital Audit. This three-year national accreditation means that we have met though international standards for patient satisfaction and rehab care.
