(SAN JOSE, CA – FEBRUARY 22, 2012) – O’Connor Hospital has once again earned Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission. The nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care, The Joint Commission awarded certification after conducting a comprehensive site review on December 9.

“O’Connor Hospital demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” says James F. Dover, FACHE, President & CEO of O’Connor Hospital. “This national recognition provides an important, independent evaluation and confirmation of our commitment to excellent stroke care.”

In 2011, O’Connor Hospital received the “Get with the Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award” from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA). The award recognizes O’Connor Hospitals’ success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care. In addition, O’Connor is one of two hospitals inSanta ClaraCounty to receive the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Target Stroke Award in 2011. The Target Stroke Award recognizes hospitals that can deliver tPA (a clot-busting drug) with a door-to-needle time in less than 60 minutes.

Each year approximately 795,000 people will experience a new or recurrent stroke, which is the third leading cause of death inAmerica. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability with more than 6 million stroke survivors alive today, affecting 4 out of 5 American families. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex or age.

The Joint Commission’s Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements/guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program –  the nation’s first — in 2003. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.

For more information about stroke symptoms or prevention, please visit www.oconnorhospital.org.

“As we acknowledge our tenth year as a health system, we know this past decade attaches to our long and valued history spanning more than 375 years of caring for those less fortunate,” offers Robert Issai, President & CEO of Daughters of Charity Health System. “We have been blessed with a rich legacy of adapting to and fulfilling the needs of those we serve.”
St. Vincent de Paul, a country priest, and St. Louise de Marillac, a widow, formed the first Company of the Daughters of Charity in 1633 to serve the sick and poor inParis. In 1809, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded the American Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland. By 1823, the Sisters assumed responsibility for the Nursing Service of the Baltimore Infirmary in Maryland. Five years later, the Sisters traveled toSt. Louis, Missouri, and established the first Catholic hospital in the country,originally named Sisters’ Hospital, eventually renamed Mullanphy Hospital in honor of benefactor John Mullanphy.  Today, it is known as De Paul Hospital.

Until 1995, the Daughters of Charity hospitals were part of the Daughters of Charity National Health System, which was established in 1986 in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1995, the Daughters of Charity, Province of the West, merged their six hospitals with Catholic Healthcare West (CHW). In 2001, after careful reflection, they withdrew from CHW.

On January 1, 2002, the Daughters of Charity Health System was formed. Today, more than 7500 physicians and associates work alongside Daughters of Charity, continuing a legacy of service to our California communities.

“When the Daughters of Charity first arrived in San Francisco in 1852, they set a high standard of service to members of their communities,” says Sister Marjory Ann Baez, DC, Visitatrix, Province of the West. “Our California health care roots took hold in 1858 when we established the Los Angeles County Hospital, now St.Vincent Medical Center. Today, we continue to embrace that high standard and offer quality compassionate care to those in need and beyond.”

“Our hospital was founded as the San Jose Sanitarium and Home in 1889,” offers James F. Dover, President & CEO of O’Connor Hospital, a member hospital of DCHS. “Judge Myles O’Connor and his wife Amanda generously provided funds for a community facility” he adds. “We have been a presence in California for more than 150 years with a number of our original institutions still in existence today. Our Mission of caring for the sick and those living in poverty has sustained us throughout the years.”

Today, DCHS hospitals include Seton Medical Center, Daly City; Seton Coastside, Moss Beach; O’Connor Hospital, San Jose; Saint Louise Regional Hospital, Gilroy; St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood; and St. Vincent Medical Center, Los Angeles.

San Jose, CA

“Their credibility and insight bring something medical professionals can’t offer if they haven’t been through the experience,” says Karen de la Cuesta, NP-C, stroke coordinator at O’Connor. “They connect with patients and their families because they’ve been there.”

May is National Stroke Month. Suffering a stroke is a major medical event that is often debilitating and life-altering. The outcome causes stress and emotional turmoil for not only the stroke survivor, but for family and friends as well. By providing hope and motivation to guide stroke patients through their journey of recovery, the specially trained team helps survivors reclaim their independence.

“We are proud to launch this program at O’Connor,” offers President & CEO James Dover, FACHE. “Supporting our patients throughout their care, especially those who have suffered a stroke, is at the heart of our Mission to provide excellent, compassionate care to those we serve.”

O’Connor Hospital’s Stroke Center is a Joint Commission Certified “Center of Excellence” and the recipient of the Get With the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award.