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St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s Primary Stroke Center has earned The Gold Seal of Approval & Accreditation from The Joint Commission

Far Rockaway, New York, March 13, 2023 — St. John’s Episcopal Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for comprehensive Stroke Center Certification. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. This recognition is a testament to the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines. Previously, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital earned a silver achievement award. St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s Stroke Center received Accreditation by demonstrating consistent compliance with the Joint Commission’s performance standards.

St. John’s Primary Stroke Center underwent a rigorous, onsite review during which a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with standards spanning several areas. The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance.

“As a health care accreditor, The Joint Commission works with health care organizations across settings to help improve patient safety and quality of care through our expert resources and tools, innovative solutions and rigorous standards,” says Deborah Ryan, MS, RN, interim executive vice president, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission. “We commend St. John’s Episcopal Hospital for its commitment to advance safety and quality for all patients.”

“Achieving certification demonstrates our commitment to a higher standard of care, and best practices that will improve patient outcomes. Certified hospitals have reduced morbidity/mortality rates, improved long-term outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. We are extremely proud of our team at Episcopal Health Services who provide extraordinary care for patients, their families and our community,” says Karen Paige, Chief Quality Officer & Vice President, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN.

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital previously received the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted guidelines.


About Episcopal Health Services

Episcopal Health Services Inc., (EHS) is a health system located on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New York. The system provides emergency and ambulatory care to the densely populated, culturally and economically diverse, and medically underserved Rockaways and Five Towns populations. The system provides people of all faiths with comprehensive preventive, diagnostic treatment, and rehabilitative services, regardless of their ability to pay.