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Upstate University Hospital earns national certification

SYRACUSE, N.Y. —Upstate University Hospital is the first hospital in New York state to achieve certification as a DNV Primary Stroke Center (PSC) Hospital. In addition, the hospital has received accreditation by DNV's National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organization (NIAHO) program.

"We are proud to have successfully met the high level of standards that DNV expects hospitals to achieve for its accreditation and certification," said Paul Seale, chief operating officer for Upstate University Hospital. "These distinctions demonstrate to our patients and their family members the importance that Upstate University Hospital places in offering safe, high quality patient care services."

Hospital accreditation

DNV Healthcare is the newest hospital accrediting agency in the nation and the first agency in more than 40 years to be accredited by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a new hospital accrediting program.

DNV surveyors conduct annual, unannounced reviews of all hospital areas, not just clinical settings, to ensure that quality care is integrated into the core processes of running a hospital. The surveyors collaborate with hospital staff to promote the discovery of new and innovative ways to deliver quality healthcare services that specifically meet the needs of each hospital's patient populations.

In addition, DNV's hospital accreditation program is the only one of its kind to integrate International Standardization Organization (ISO) guidelines that relate to quality management systems and are designed to help organizations ensure that they meet the needs of their customers and other stakeholders.

DNV Healthcare certified Upstate University Hospital as a Primary Stroke Center (PSC), signifying that the hospital—through its Upstate Stroke Center— is using the highest standards and proven methods to achieve successful outcomes for stroke patients.

To achieve this certification, DNV surveyors reviewed actual and potential patient outcomes, as well as required processes. They assessed the care and services provided at Upstate, including the appropriateness of the care and services within the context of the certification requirements.

Additionally, surveyors visited a variety of patient care settings associated with stroke care, including inpatient units, outpatient settings, emergency departments, imaging, rehabilitation, remote locations, as well as reviewed clinical records, staff records, and other documentation necessary to validate information gained from observations and interviews.

Upstate's Stroke Center has been recognized previously for its stroke care. Last year, it earned the Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association.

In 2006, Upstate University Hospital became Central New York's first hospital to receive Stroke Center Designation from the New York State Department of Health, a distinction it continues to hold.

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