St. Joseph’s Health Receives Primary Stroke Center Certification From DNV

Affirms the hospital’s medical team expertly addresses the full spectrum of stroke care

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— St. Joseph’s Health has received certification from DNV as a Primary Stroke Center. This recertification affirms the expertise St. Joseph’s Health has in a wide range of treatment for stroke-related medical issues.

“St. Joseph’s Health is known for our top-ranking cardiovascular care, which can also help to reduce stroke risk. Once people understand that connection, they immediately realize why stroke care is so important,” said Dr. Fahed Saada, Stroke Program Director and Section Chief of Neurology as St. Joseph’s Health. “While our robust education and preventative care efforts are important, if someone does suffer from a stroke, it is critical to get that patient to a hospital with expert understanding of these nuances for stroke care.”

Dr. Saada adds that it is also important for family members, friends or paramedics to note the time of the first symptom of a patient’s stroke, as this information can affect treatment decisions. In-depth knowledge of all aspects of a stroke, and attention to details like these, are some of the many reasons why St. Joseph’s Health has earned recertification as a Primary Stroke Center.

The DNV Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on standards set by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association, affirms that the medical team at St. Joseph’s Health expertly addresses the full spectrum of stroke care – diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and education – and establishes clear metrics to evaluate outcomes.

“Achieving certification shows proven results and commitment to excellence,” says Patrick Horine, President of DNV Healthcare USA Inc. “It also demonstrates to your community that you are performing at the highest level.”

According to the National 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.

“It is critical for patients suffering from a stroke to get care as quickly as possible, and we want people to know that they should include St. Joseph’s Health in their care plan if they or a loved one are having a stroke emergency,” Dr. Saada said.

The common acronym that is used to identify the most common symptoms of a stroke is F.A.S.T. According to the National Stroke Association, this stands for:

Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?


Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?


Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?


Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Being able to recognize a stroke, call 9-1-1, and get the patient to a hospital quickly can help improve the patient’s recovery. For more information about St. Joseph’s Health Stroke Care, visit www.sjhsyr.org.

About St. Joseph’s Health

St. Joseph’s Health is a regional non-profit health care system based in Syracuse, NY. St. Joseph’s has been an innovative leader in health care since our founding in 1869 as the first hospital open to the public in the city of Syracuse. Offering primary, specialty and home care, a Magnet-recognized hospital, and collaboration with community partners, St. Joseph's Health advances the well-being of the communities we serve through an expanding range of services to ensure our patients achieve optimum long-term health. St. Joseph’s is the only hospital in Syracuse to hold the LeapFrog ‘A’ safety rating, ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, a designated Stroke Center and a U.S. News “Best Regional Hospital.” St. Joseph’s Health is affiliated with St. Joseph's Physicians, and is a member of Trinity Health. For more information, visit www.sjhsyr.org/legacy.”

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

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