Joint Commission Designates Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center
SPOKANE, Wash. — Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification, recognizing the hospital as one of the nation’s most advanced stroke care providers. Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center plays a vital role in caring for patients across the Inland Northwest. This certification affirms the hospital’s commitment to ensuring families throughout the community have access to advanced, life‑saving stroke treatment close to home.
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review December 4-5, 2025. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with certification standards, including program management, clinical care pathways, rapid response protocols, caregiver education, and the delivery of comprehensive stroke care. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients.
“Becoming a Comprehensive Stroke Center is more than a certification—it represents years of dedication from caregivers and physicians who show up every day determined to make a difference,” said Providence Chief Executive Susan Stacey. “Families in our region deserve the highest level of stroke care close to home, and our caregivers have worked with incredible dedication to make that a reality.”
Throughout the past several years, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has implemented significant enhancements to expand and strengthen stroke care in preparation for certification.
This work includes:
- Development of 24/7 call schedule for aneurysm care, supported by the addition of an endovascular neurosurgeon
- The addition of a second neurointerventional suite, added in 2025, enabling simultaneous procedures, when needed
- Implementing 24/7 stroke care through expanded neurology teams, neurohospitalists and advanced practice providers
- Implementation of telestroke services to support increasing patient volumes and multiple simultaneous stroke cases
- Education of Providence caregivers on BEFAST stroke recognition
- Integration of Inland Neurosurgery and Spine, Inland Imaging, and Providence Neurology, creating a fully coordinated multidisciplinary stroke program
- Providence also recognizes the Providence Inland Northwest Foundation for its early support of the hospital’s first neurointerventional suite, established in 2018.
“We’ve have been providing this level of care for years, and we are proud to be recognized,” said Dr. Louisa Lavy. “This means patients can be assure they will be receiving the highest level of stroke care.”
“Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.
About Providence
Providence is a not-for-profit Catholic health care ministry committed to providing for the needs of the communities it serves – especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. In Eastern Washington, the Providence network of services includes Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, Providence Holy Family Hospital and Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center – all nationally recognized for quality care, as well as two critical access hospitals in Colville and Chewelah. It also includes a full continuum of services under Providence Medical Group – Providence Medical Park in Spokane Valley (a comprehensive multi-specialty center), three urgent care centers, home health, assisted living, adult day health, skilled nursing care, and over 90 specialty and primary care clinics throughout Eastern Washington. Providence Medical Group includes more than 850 physicians and advanced practitioners. Its medical staff includes primary care providers, surgical subspecialists, and medical specialists. For more information, visit www.providence.org.
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