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CHS Has First Two Designated Primary Stroke Centers In Mercer County

Fuld and Mercer Campus Respectively Earn First and Second State Certifications

Capital Health System (CHS) has the first (the Fuld campus) and second (the Mercer campus) hospitals in Mercer County designated as Primary Stroke Centers under a new licensure program coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS).
“To receive this important stroke center designation, hospitals must have the necessary staff and equipment to optimally triage and treat stroke patients, said Al Maghazehe, PhD, FACHE, president and CEO, CHS. “Based on criteria set forth by the State and a panel of stroke experts from across New Jersey, our new designations mean that our Fuld and Mercer campuses provide the best care for acute stroke patients when it comes to evaluating, stabilizing and providing emergency care.”
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the NJDHSS estimates that 700,000 to 750,000 new and recurrent strokes occur in the country each year. In response, the NJDHSS recently enacted what is referred to as “The Stroke Center Act,” which allows hospitals throughout New Jersey to apply for designation as a Primary Stroke Center based on statewide standards.
"Capital Health System has made a commitment to providing prompt stroke care, taking a leading-edge approach in Mercer County and the surrounding region," said James Ware, MD, medical director of the stroke center at CHS. "We realize that time is key. Treatment can be given to limit or even eliminate disabilities associated with a stroke if, among other criteria, a person receives prompt treatment at the beginning of the onset of symptoms. This treatment can be extremely beneficial if given within the first three hours. With early intervention, our stroke teams can safeguard the quality of your life after stroke, but a lot depends on how fast you recognize what’s happening to you."
It also means that CHS is well equipped to decide on the patient’s next course of treatment, whether that means admitting them at one of our two dedicated stroke units or transferring them to a Comprehensive Stroke Center, where they can receive more specialized testing for the most complex strokes.
"Every hospital observes National Stroke Awareness Month in May, but at Capital Health System, our two dedicated stroke units are ready 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week all year round for immediate response in diagnosing and treating patients who present with stroke symptoms," said Beth Mil, RN, MA director of Critical Care Services and stroke coordinator at CHS.
The acute stroke teams on both campuses are available to see a patient in the Emergency Department within 15 minutes of arrival in the emergency room or within 15 minutes following a potentially diagnosed stroke.
Visit our Stroke Alert web page for more information.