Stroke units certified as pilot program completes

Meeting national standards through stroke unit certification is an important step in ensuring all Australians receive the same level of stroke care, regardless of location. The 12-month stroke unit certification pilot program is currently completing evaluation and will re-open program applications in September.

The pilot program evaluation aims to review the impact Stroke Unit Certification has for patient outcomes, teams, sites, and hospital accreditation and advocacy. Participating sites have reported the application and feedback process has contributed to positive changes in stroke care, notably around quality improvement, job descriptions and roles, and nursing interventions. Feedback from sites to date includes:

• “The process is valuable. 'What is seen is managed,' so the full assessment provides an opportunity to see the areas that can be celebrated and those that require attention.”
• “I didn't think the process was difficult or time consuming and it allowed us to see where we could improve because there is always room for improvement.”
• “Stroke unit certification has enabled momentum of quality improvement”
• “It enabled us to review our service and will now use the recommendations from the accreditation to review our process”
• “Has provided recognition to a service that is sometimes overlooked”
• “Really positive to have a full review of this process”
• “I would strongly encourage all facilities to participate”
   

During the 12-month pilot program, a total of 11 sites across Australia achieved certification and publication on the Australian Stroke Coalition website, and were recognised for their achievement in a presentation at the Stroke 2023 conference by Professor Tim Kleinig and Dr Lisa Murphy:

Comprehensive Stroke Centres:

• Alfred Health (VIC)
• Royal Adelaide (SA)
• Gold Coast University Hospital (QLD)

Primary Stroke Centres:

• St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals (WA)
• Launceston General Hospital (TAS)
• Logan Hospital (QLD)
• Wagga Wagga Base (NSW)
• Box Hill Hospital (VIC)

Stroke Capable Rural General Hospital:

• Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital (NSW)
• Echuca Regional Health (VIC)
• Alice Springs Hospital (NT)

Ongoing program work will continue to better understand how certification can transition to existing systems and influence wider system enablers, such as hospital pricing for dedicated stroke care.

To find out more about the stroke unit certification program and to be placed on the current waiting list, Australian stroke unit sites are encouraged to register an expression of interest

For additional information please contact Senior Project Officer Leah Pett: lpett@strokefoundation.org.au

Pictured below is the stroke unit team from the Gold Coast University Hospital with their stroke unit certification plaque.