VHH Named a Primary Stroke Center

Verdugo Hills Hospital has been designated as a Primary Stroke Center, by DNV Healthcare, Inc.

ensures that patients who come to the hospital’s Emergency Department with stroke-like symptoms, receive the highest quality of comprehensive neurological care, whether onsite or at its referring facility, Keck Medical Center of USC. Regardless of how an acute stroke patient enters Verdugo Hills Hospital, the stroke team is fully trained to respond to patients’ emergent needs.

Some of the highlights of the Stroke Center include highly-trained emergency physicians and stroke-certified nurses, telemedicine consults with neurologists at USC, cutting-edge diagnostic capabilities and superb rehabilitation services.

The program is headed by board-certified vascular neurologist, Dr. Nerses Sanossian, assistant professor of neurology and director of the stroke program at USC.

“In a typical stroke the brain loses approximately 2 million brain cells every minute. Primary Stroke Centers save brain by delivering appropriate stroke therapies more quickly and efficiently than other hospitals,” Sanossian said.

Sanossian obtained his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He completed residency in neurology at the Albert Einstein College and his fellowship in Vascular Neurology at the UCLA Stroke Center. He is board-certified in neurology, vascular neurology, neuroimaging and neurosonology.

Keck Medical Center of USC houses a neurocritical care unit dedicated to patients with severe brain injuries where they can receive leading-edge, multi-disciplinary patient care.

Primary Stroke Center Certification is an opportunity for healthcare organizations providing stroke treatment to demonstrate their commitment to excellence.

DNV's Primary Stroke C Certification program incorporates elements from its NIAHO^® (National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations) hospital accreditation standards as well as requirements from the Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition and Recommendations of the American Stroke Association.

Editor's Note: The preceding information was submitted by Verdugo Hills Hospital Spokeswoman Celine Petrossian