(CAMDEN, N.J., March 5, 2024) Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, in strategic alliance with Penn Medicine, has earned two prestigious designations for its advanced stroke care. The Camden hospital recently received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center Certification.

“Ischemic stroke, when a blood clot blocks blood flow in the brain, accounts for about 87% of all strokes. Mechanical thrombectomy is an advanced procedure to surgically remove the clot quickly and safely, restoring blood flow to the brain,” explained Omar Choudhri, MD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a cerebrovascular surgeon with the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Neurosciences Program.

“The stakes are high and every minute counts,” Dr. Choudhri added. “That’s why we train to identify, prep, and treat these patients as quickly as possible from the moment they come into the emergency department.”

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes – home to several of Virtua’s most leading-edge health care services – underwent a rigorous onsite review in which a team of Joint Commission reviewers conducted interviews, observed colleagues, and evaluated compliance with related certification standards.

The certification was made possible in part through Virtua Health’s strategic alliance with Penn Medicine, which began in 2015. The alliance brings comprehensive care of complex brain, spine, and nervous system disorders close to home in South Jersey through the combination of Penn’s neuroscience clinical experts and Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital services.

“This certification recognizes health care organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Virtua Health for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”

“We congratulate Virtua Health for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

“Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital serves the dual role of being a regional leader in advanced and innovative care and a trusted, community-based facility,” said Lisa Ferraro, BSN, NEA-BC, MBA, president of the hospital and a senior vice president for Virtua Health. “Recognition like this demonstrates our commitment to expanding access to leading-edge—often life-saving—care for our South Jersey community.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.

Photo caption: Members of the stroke team in an advanced operating room at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, N.J.