St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Earns Advanced Primary Stroke Center Reaccreditation from The Joint Commission

Far Rockaway, New York, May 16, 2025 — St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, part of Episcopal Health Services (EHS), has once again earned The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Gold Seal of Approval® as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center. This designation is a prestigious symbol of quality that demonstrates a health care organization’s commitment to delivering safe, high-quality patient care.

The hospital received accreditation following a rigorous onsite survey in February 2025, during which a TJC reviewer evaluated its compliance with national standards, clinical guidelines and patient outcomes specific to stroke care.

“This reaccreditation is a reflection of our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering timely, life-saving care to stroke patients,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer of Episcopal Health Services. “At EHS, we understand that every second counts, and we are proud to provide this level of care to the communities we serve.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and every three minutes and 11 seconds, someone dies from one. Stroke is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. As an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, St. John’s is equipped with the expertise, technology, and protocols needed to deliver fast, effective care when it matters most.

“Earning reaccreditation is a testament to the coordination, training, and dedication of every team member involved in stroke care,” said Karen Paige, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Episcopal Health Services. “It takes collaboration, consistency, and a shared commitment to excellence to deliver care at this level, and I’m grateful to our team for rising to the challenge every day.”

“This recognition highlights the dedication and hard work of our clinical and quality teams, who consistently go above and beyond to meet and exceed national benchmarks,” said Robert Bloise Jr., DMSc, MS, PA-C, Chief Quality Officer at Episcopal Health Services. “Reaccreditation reinforces our ongoing commitment to improving stroke care and delivering excellent outcomes, year after year.”

In addition to this achievement, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital has also received the American Heart Association’s Gold-Plus Get With the Guidelines® – Stroke Quality Achievement Award for eight consecutive years, further highlighting the hospital’s consistent delivery of evidence-based care that improves outcomes for stroke patients.