GMHC receives Skilled Nursing Facility Stroke Rehab Certification from the American Heart Association
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics has earned the Skilled Nursing Facility Stroke Rehabilitation Certification offered by the American Heart Association®, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating skilled nursing facilities against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based requirements for stroke rehabilitation, including program management, personnel education, patient/caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management, and performance improvement.
“Participation in this certification benefits the patient and the facility by standardizing care practices,” said Pam Duncan, PhD, PT, FAPTA, FAHA, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s Skilled Nursing Facility Stroke Rehabilitation Certification Oversight Workgroup. “When there are clear processes during every phase of care, patients have the best opportunity for positive outcomes.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious long-term disability. Each year, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke, according to the Association’s 2024 statistical update. This certification can support facilities’ efforts to help patients best recover from stroke.
“Patients recovering from stroke need high-quality care after leaving the hospital that follows evidence-based guidelines, giving them the best chance to improve their health,” said Keri Smith, Chief Nursing Officer. ” At GMHC, we want to be trailblazers and continue to use innovative methods to give our patients who have experienced stroke the best care. The American Heart Association has armed us with additional tools and recognized our success. It is an honor to have our processes and efforts recognized in this way.”The American Heart Association certification recognizes commitment to following the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines.