ASC ASC Stroke Program Certification & Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization provides Primary Stroke Center (PSC) certification in the United States?
- The Joint Commission (Correct answer)
- American Heart Association
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- American Academy of Neurology
Correct answer: The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission is the primary accrediting body that certifies Primary, Thrombectomy-Capable, and Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the US.
Question 2: A Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) must demonstrate 24/7 availability of which capability beyond PSC requirements?
- Mechanical thrombectomy (Correct answer)
- IV tPA administration
- CT scanning
- Telestroke consult
Correct answer: Mechanical thrombectomy
CSCs must offer around-the-clock endovascular mechanical thrombectomy, distinguishing them from Primary Stroke Centers.
Question 3: What minimum door-to-needle (DTN) time benchmark is used by The Joint Commission's Target: Stroke program?
- 60 minutes (Correct answer)
- 45 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 90 minutes
Correct answer: 60 minutes
The Joint Commission's Target: Stroke initiative sets 60 minutes as the benchmark DTN time for IV tPA administration.
Question 4: Which stroke center designation level is specifically designed to serve rural communities with limited resources?
- Acute Stroke Ready Hospital (ASRH) (Correct answer)
- Primary Stroke Center (PSC)
- Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC)
- Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC)
Correct answer: Acute Stroke Ready Hospital (ASRH)
The Acute Stroke Ready Hospital designation was created to extend organized stroke care to facilities that cannot meet full PSC requirements.
Question 5: Under Joint Commission stroke certification, what is the required minimum number of Get With The Guidelines–Stroke performance measures that must be reported?
- All applicable core measures (Correct answer)
- Only DTN and NIHSS
- Three measures of the hospital's choice
- Door-to-CT time only
Correct answer: All applicable core measures
TJC stroke certification requires hospitals to collect and report all applicable GWTG-Stroke core measures to demonstrate performance.
Question 6: A stroke coordinator is preparing for a Joint Commission recertification visit. Disease-Specific Care certification is typically renewed every how many years?
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years
- 1 year
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care certifications, including stroke, are renewed on a 2-year cycle with an on-site review.
ASC ASC Stroke Program Certification & Standards 1
Which organization provides Primary Stroke Center (PSC) certification in the United States?