NEWS RELEASE – February 14, 2022

Whitesburg ARH Hospital Earns Acute Stroke Ready Center Certification

February 14, 2022 – Whitesburg ARH Hospital has received certification from DNV as an Acute Stroke Ready Center, affirming the hospital’s readiness to handle strokes and stroke related medical problems.

The advantage of an Acute Stroke Ready certified program is that these stroke centers usually serve communities where access to a larger hospital with more specialized stroke care is too far for patients to reach in limited time.

“We know that Time is Brain,” says Rachel Jenkins, MSN, RN, ARH Neuroscience Service Line Director. “The faster a patient can get to a certified stroke center, the faster the patient will be diagnosed and treated. Saving this valuable time is known to decrease complications of a stroke.”

Whitesburg ARH Hospital Interim Community CEO Ellen Wright says the certification is an assurance to the community that Whitesburg ARH has the resources and commitment to provide the best possible stroke care.

“Being a Stroke Ready Center shows that we have a combination of the right equipment, personnel and training to quickly assess, identify and treat strokes quickly. This includes the ability to efficiently transfer patients to one of our more specialized ARH locations or when needed, another healthcare facility, in the instances they require treatment beyond our capabilities,” she says. “Achieving certification validates the tremendous effort we have put into this program, ensuring the health and safety of our patients.”

The DNV Acute Stroke Ready (ASR) Certification is derived from evidenced-based standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, and affirms that — Whitesburg ARH addresses the initial diagnosis, initial treatment and when necessary, facilitates quick transfer to a specialized stroke center with a higher spectrum of stroke care.

“Achieving certification shows a commitment to excellence,” says Patrick Horine, President of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. “It helps demonstrate to your community that you are providing the highest level of care that this hospital is designed to offer.”

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is a leading cause of death, killing nearly 130,000 people each year, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability. Because stroke or “brain attack” effects blood flow to the brain, rapid and effective treatment can save lives and provide the best chance of limiting the extent of long-term damage.

About DNV

DNV is a global independent certification, assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, drives innovative solutions.

Whether certifying a company’s management system or products, accrediting hospitals, providing training, assessing supply chains or digital assets, DNV enables customers and stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence, continually improve and realize long-term strategic goals sustainably.

DNV draws on its wide technical and industry expertise to help companies worldwide build consumer and stakeholder trust. Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.

For more information about DNV, visit www.dnvcert.com/healthcare