CLEVELAND, OHIO (February 15, 2010)—St. Vincent Charity Medical Center’s Emergency Department at the main downtown campus and Solon ER have for the second time been designated  Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission for Hospital Accreditation (JCAHO).

This distinction recognizes that St. Vincent Charity Medical Center's stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients. “As a model of urban healthcare, it is important for us to provide quality, evidence-based medical care,” said Dr. Robert Richardson, Director of Neurology and the Center for Neurodiagnostics at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “Our second consecutive stroke center certification and our five-star HealthGrades rating indicate the willingness of our administration and staff to step up to this standard for the communities we serve.”

Recognized repeatedly for its clinical excellence and quality patient experience, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is a model of urban healthcare in Cleveland.

“It is because of the continuing dedication of our physicians and caregivers that we are able to make a difference in improving the lives of those we serve,” said Krystyna Strozewski, Vice President of Quality and Resource Management. “We routinely identify areas for improvement and implement action steps specifically designed to achieve our goals of fostering and maintaining a culture of patient safety, improving patient outcomes, achieving full compliance with the National Patient Safety Goals and JCAHO standards and proactively completing risk assessments, “ said Strozewski.