Methodist University Hospital, the flagship hospital for the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system, has earned the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission for two Center of Excellence programs: stroke and heart attack. Specifically, MUH has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center and as a Certified AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction-heart attack) Program.

Elias Giraldo, M.D., Stroke Medical Director for Methodist University Hospital, said, “With Memphis being in the buckle of the stroke belt, this certification is especially meaningful. Quick action by a highly qualified, certified team can truly be the difference between life and death.”

Stroke is the third largest cause of death, and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

“Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for men and women all over the world,” said Bruce Wilson, M.D., director of the interventional cardiac catheterization lab. “I am so proud of Methodist University Hospital for taking the lead in this Joint Commission certification so that we can provide the best possible care for our patients.”

Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of Methodist University Hospital, said, “Methodist University Hospital is on a quest to attain the highest level of patient care in the nation. The MUH cardiac center of excellence and the neuroscience center of excellence have achieved national recognition due to the talent and commitment of our physicians and nurses. Being the first in the Mid-South certified in AMI and the first in West Tennessee as a primary stroke enter and a brain attack program was due, in part, to our collaboration with our academic partner, University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

“Methodist University Hospital has demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients,” said Jean E. Range, MS, RN, CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission. “The AMI (heart attack) certification means that Methodist University Hospital does the right things and does them well for heart attack patients.”

The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brian 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

About The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

About Methodist University Hospital
Methodist University Hospital, the flagship of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system, is located in the heart of the Memphis Medical Center and has 669 beds. Methodist University Hospital is the major teaching campus of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

A tertiary care and referral center, Methodist University Hospital has one of the largest neurosciences programs in the country. The transplant program specializes in solid organ transplants of the kidney, liver and pancreas. Within Methodist University Hospital is the separately licensed Methodist Extended Care Hospital, a long-term, 36-bed acute care facility that serves as a "hospital within a hospital."