The stroke care practices of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health have been certified by a national accreditation nonprofit.

Metro Health has been certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, which has deeming authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Metro’s stroke care is based in the neurosciences department of its Wyoming hospital campus, at 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, though the certification recognizes the stroke care processes, protocols and expertise across the health system.

There are four other stroke centers in the country certified by HFAP, two in Arizona and two in Indiana.

The organization also provides accreditation to hospitals, ambulatory care/surgical facilities, mental health facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, clinical laboratories and critical access hospitals.

“Pursuing the highest level of certification was a strategic decision,” said Dr. Augusto Elias, director of Metro Health’s stroke center. 

“Certification was a chance to prove ourselves, to measure our expertise against national standards. Additionally, the certification identifies Metro Health as an option for other hospitals that lack this level of care, expanding options and access for anyone who suffers a stroke.”

The accreditation process includes an application, quality survey, deficiency report, a correct response or plan of corrections of deficiencies and the final decision.

Elias said earning the certification involved reviewing Metro Health against national standards HFAP established for every step of care, from the 911 call to post-hospital care coordination and education for patients and families.

The process included having HFAP spend time at the hospital to review records and procedures and interviewing staff about their roles, he said.

“With the support of Michigan Medicine colleagues and our physician leadership here, we were able to attain comprehensive stroke certification in less than a year. That’s an incredible achievement,” Elias said.

HFAP will conduct a mid-cycle review in 18 months and complete re-certification in three years.

“This recognition is richly deserved, and everyone at Metro Health should take pride in it,” said Dr. Peter Hahn, chief medical officer, Metro Health. “Stroke care touches almost every part of our organization, and this is a reflection of our commitment to bringing the highest level of care to patients in our region.”

Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

An affiliate of University of Michigan Health, Metro Health has 55 locations in West Michigan.

Anchored by its 208-bed hospital, the 170-acre Metro Health Village in Wyoming — which includes support services, shops and restaurants — serves more than 250,000 patients annually, including 61,000 emergency patients.

As a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and accredited Chest Pain Center, Metro Health staffs more than 500 physicians that provide neurosciences, pulmonology, gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, OB/GYN, bariatrics, orthopedics and wound care.