Inova Hospitals Recognized by the Virginia General Assembly for Superior Stroke Treatment Services
May 18, 2007
Falls
Church, VA— Inova Alexandria and
Inova Fairfax hospitals will welcome the Honorable Richard Saslaw, Virginia
State Senator, and his colleagues from the Virginia State Senate and House of
Delegates on Wednesday, May 23 for the presentation of a state resolution
recognizing the hospitals’ status as Primary Stoke Centers. During this year’s
legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly commended both hospitals for
achieving this certification and for their “dedication to improving treatment
for stroke patients in the Commonwealth.”
WHAT:
Presentation of State Joint Resolution
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 23,
2007
WHERE:
Inova
Fairfax Hospital
3300 Gallows
Road
Falls Church,
VA
Presentation will be held outside near Emergency Department
WHO:
The Honorable Richard Saslaw, Virginia State Senator
Ken Kozloff, Senior Vice President, Inova Health System, CEO, Inova Alexandria Hospital
Doug Cropper, Executive Vice President, Inova Health System, CEO, Inova Fairfax Hospital
John Cochran, MD, Neurologist, Inova Fairfax Hospital
Lewis Eberly, MD, Neurologist, Inova Alexandria Hospital
Inova Alexandria and Inova Fairfax hospitals are the only two hospitals in Northern Virginia to earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations for Primary Stroke Centers. Certification signifies that the services provided by the Center have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes and serves as a signal to the community that the quality care provided is effectively managed to meet the unique and specialized needs of stroke patients.
In 2003, Inova Alexandria Hospital became the first in the Washington, D.C. area to open a dedicated stroke unit. In February of this year, Inova Fairfax Hospital opened its own dedicated stroke unit. These units are staffed with a team of physicians and rapid response nurses who are specially trained to recognize and diagnose the early signs of stroke and to begin immediate and effective treatment.
According to the American Heart Association, about 700,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Stroke kills more than 157,000 people a year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In Virginia, stroke causes about 3,000 deaths each year.
As part of its stroke program, Inova has partnered with the American Stroke Association to take part in Operation Stroke, a program designed to increase awareness about stoke, its warning signs and risk factors, and to improve patient outcomes.
For additional information about stoke and the warning signs, click here.
Contact:
Che Parker
703-321-2559
Jeanne Mayer
703- 321-2918
Kimberly Gibbs
703-504-3438
