AdventHealth Daytona Beach earns thrombectomy-capable certification for stroke care

AdventHealth Daytona Beach has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center certification.

Strokes are a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability in the U.S. and 80% are preventable. Treatment is time-sensitive, making prompt treatment critical.

AdventHealth Daytona Beach performs advanced therapies for stroke care, including administering the time-sensitive clot-busting medication tPA to break-up or dissolve a clot. Unfortunately, this medication can only be used within four-and-a-half hours of symptoms first appearing – that’s why getting quick access to care is so important.

Another therapy, called a thrombectomy, is much more specialized and it gives clinicians more time to deliver treatment – up to 24 hours from when symptoms first appear. This medical treatment can remove a blood clot from a blocked blood vessel in the brain in the most common type of stroke, called ischemic strokes.

“As the only AdventHealth facility in the area providing this advanced stroke treatment, our Interventional Neuroradiology (INR) program has made a significant impact in stroke care,” said Dr. Vijay Pandav, a vascular and interventional neurologist who specializes in stroke and endovascular therapy at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. “By extending the window for stroke treatment to 24 hours, this gives patients a crucial opportunity for recovery.”

AdventHealth Daytona Beach launched its INR program in November 2022, and the acute stroke team and neuro-interventionalists are highly trained and experienced in complex stroke care and are available 24/7 to provide around-the-clock access to thrombectomy therapy.

"Strokes affect both the vascular and neurological systems, requiring a comprehensive and meticulous approach to care,” said Dr. David Sinclair, chief medical officer at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. “Our clinicians understand the importance of swift action and have implemented protocols and advanced technologies to provide the best stroke care available. It is an honor to have this work recognized by these national clinical organizations.”

Earning this new certification recognizes AdventHealth Daytona Beach for excellence in performing thrombectomies and post-procedural care, giving stroke patients access to the highest level of quality care.

"In a medical emergency like a stroke, time is critical, and our teams far exceed the national goals for getting stroke patients the treatment they need quickly, giving patients the greatest chance at recovery,” said Sinclair.

To achieve this certification, AdventHealth Daytona Beach underwent a rigorous review process in May and demonstrated compliance with standards for program management and clinical care delivery.

This recognition complements AdventHealth Daytona Beach’s recent recognitions from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for stroke and diabetes care, as well a designation from Healthgrades as one of 170 hospitals in the nation for delivering superior patient outcomes in coronary intervention procedures, including angioplasty with a stent.

"Because symptoms can appear suddenly or develop over time, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to quickly recognize the signs of a stroke. Mini strokes – called transient ischemic attacks – are often warning signs of an impending major stroke,” said Rose Watroba, senior manager of the stroke program for the AdventHealth operations in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties. “Calling 911 without hesitation and getting treatment at a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center can make all the difference."