Melissa Silvera, the neuroscience service line director at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, said earning this certification means an organization is equipped to evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency care and interventional therapies to all patients with acute stroke symptoms and it has the ability to admit patients to dedicated stroke units. Silvera said Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has been operating at the required level since January 2022.
“During a stroke, every second that passes means more brain tissue dies, potentially leading to irreparable loss of brain function or even death,” Silvera said. “By having the highest level of stroke care in their backyard, patients do not lose valuable time being transported to another facility. The convenience of the hospital also allows patients to stay closer to home and loved ones during recovering, which contributes to better outcomes.”
Silvera noted comprehensive stroke center certifications are awarded by accrediting organization Det Norske Veritas and typically take two to three years to obtain. To earn a CSC certification, organization must also first earn a primary stroke center certification through DNV or The Joint Commission.
Neighboring medical provider HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest earned its comprehensive certification in November following a rigorous on-site review Sept. 16, according to a Nov. 9 news release.
“This comprehensive stroke center service will be a tremendous benefit to the community we serve in providing high-quality care to patients with strokes and other neurological conditions,” said Scott Davis, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, in a statement. “The team of providers we have assembled to care for our patients is truly exceptional and I am proud of what they do each day to provide excellent care to our patients. Our community will benefit for many years due to the efforts of this team and the quality of the providers at HCA HoustonHealthcare Northwest.”
As part of Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital's efforts to earn its certification, Silvera said the hospital opened a new interventional radiology suite in November, which is primarily used to perform thrombectomies—a minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots from arteries and veins that cause a stroke. The hospital also now has a dedicated neuro intensive care unit that is staffed by teams who specialize in stroke and neurosurgery cases.
“Our rapid response team is able to get a patient on the operating table within an hour of presenting to our emergency department with stroke symptoms,” Silvera said. “This certification would ensure that patients in Northwest Houston can receive the best care and treatment even fore the most complex stroke cases.”
As of press time, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital's DNV application had been formally accepted, and its site visit is scheduled for Sept. 28-29. During the site visit, Silvera said surveyors will evaluate the hospital's practice and standards of care to determine if it meets all the criteria for certification. Upon completion, hospital officials should receive the official certification roughly six to eight weeks after the site visit.
