First hospital to earn comprehensive stroke center certification in Volusia, Flagler, and St. Johns counties 

First hospital to earn comprehensive stroke center certification in Volusia, Flagler, and St. Johns counties 

DNV, a globally respected accreditation body, awarded AdventHealth Daytona Beach the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification, reflecting the highest level of competence for treating serious stroke events.

AdventHealth Daytona Beach is the only hospital in Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties to earn this level of designation and joins a network of AdventHealth hospitals with this certification across the state.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team; this recognition validates their expertise, skills and tireless efforts in ensuring our patients receive the best possible care during critical health emergencies,” said David Weis, CEO of AdventHealth Daytona Beach. “Additionally, this designation reinforces our reputation as a leading health care institution and assures the community of the high-quality care available here, which is crucial in saving lives and reducing disability caused by strokes.”

This designation, one of four levels of DNV’s stroke program certification, is the highest level and is based on standards set forth by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association. It recognizes medical centers that deliver the highest quality of care to the most complex stroke cases, offering evidence-based treatments with cutting-edge research protocols.

“A stroke can happen very quickly and to anyone at any age – and getting fast, expert treatment is essential because every second can make all the difference,” said Wendy Weisheimer, director of neuroscience services for the AdventHealth East Florida Division. “Stroke patients at AdventHealth Daytona Beach not only receive the fastest stroke care in the area, but this DNV certification acknowledges it is also the most comprehensive, multidisciplinary care.”

This recognition is the latest advancement in AdventHealth Daytona Beach’s stroke care and comes on the heels of an announcement to begin a $220 million expansion project, adding more surgical suites and inpatient beds – including a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit to care for stroke patients.

Additionally, in 2021, the AdventHealth Daytona Beach Foundation received a generous $1.2 million donation from local philanthropists, Jill Simpkins and Gale Lemerand, which was used to purchase specialized equipment to support the Interventional Neuroradiology (INR) program. Later that year, the Jill Simpkins and Gale Lemerand Neuroscience Center was unveiled, and the team began their work providing the highest level of neuro-interventional care. In November 2022, an acute stroke team and neuro-interventionalists who are highly trained and experienced in complex stroke care, began providing 24/7 thrombectomy coverage to our community. This work was validated by a thrombectomy capable certification in June 2023.

“The new technology offered at AdventHealth Daytona Beach and the expert hands and minds using it, is taking our community to a new level of care that we are so grateful to have here now,” said Simpkins.