Community Medical Center Nationally Recognized for High-Quality Stroke Care

When a stroke happens, patients in Missoula and surrounding communities are in some of the best hands in the country. Community Medical Center recently earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center — a national certification that recognizes high-quality stroke care.

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely decreased, which deprives brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die within minutes of a stroke.

Know the signs — act fast

The symptoms of a stroke are distinct because they happen suddenly. Call 911 if you or someone you know experiences any of the following:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

In stroke care, the difference between a good outcome and a devastating one is often measured in minutes — not hours. The CDC estimates that someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, and stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Montana. Calling 911 immediately allows EMS to begin life-saving treatment and transport patients to the nearest certified Stroke Center.

World-class care, close to home

Earning stroke certification isn't something that happens overnight. It takes years of coordinated effort across an entire care team — nurses, emergency physicians, and EMS partners all working toward the same goal.

"Stroke certification isn't something you just apply for and get. It takes years of work by a lot of people who care deeply about doing this right. Our nurses, our ER doctors, our EMS partners – they've all had a hand in this. I'm proud of what this team has built, and I think patients in this community should feel really good knowing this level of care is here at Community," said Dr. Kelley Lockhart, critical care physician at Community Medical Center.

To earn the certification, a team of Joint Commission reviewers spent time at the hospital observing care, interviewing staff, and measuring Community Medical Center against Primary Stroke Centers across the country. The standards are demanding — evaluating how quickly patients are seen and given clot-busting medications, around-the-clock stroke team access, and the hospital's relationships with higher-level care facilities for patients who need more advanced intervention.

Community Medical Center is also home to the region's top inpatient rehabilitation center, meaning stroke patients who need intensive, hospital-level therapy for recovery have access to that care in the same hospital.

To find accredited organizations in Montana, visit The Joint Commission website. For information on stroke symptoms visit our website.