Newark, NJ, 10/14/2025 – Saint Michael’s Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Certification.
Saint Michael’s Medical Center underwent a rigorous, announced onsite review on August 27th and 28th. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including the ability to rapidly deploy the Stroke Team to provide evidence based care for acute stroke patients. This includes imaging, medication, interventions such as thrombectomy (to remove blood clots) and physical therapy to reduce the long term effects of a stroke. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
“Primary Stroke Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend Saint Michael’s Medical Center for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”
“We congratulate Saint Michael’s Medical for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”
“This new designation demonstrates our continued commitment to our patients and community,” says Robert Lynch, chief nursing officer at Saint Michael’s Medical Center. “Saint Michael’s Medical Center is dedicated to maximizing clinical outcomes and keeping our standards high.”
Dr. Alan Sickles, chief executive officer at Saint Michael Medical Center says, “Saint Michael’s focuses on programs that serve our community’s needs. Stroke, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes are intimately related and their prevalence in Newark guides our strategy for growth.”
For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website.
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Established by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in 1867, Saint Michael’s Medical Center, hospital in Newark is a 358-bed regional tertiary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark’s business and educational district and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Combining state-of-the-art technology, the latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, leading-edge research, and a network of highly qualified physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, the hospital provides top-quality healthcare services delivered with compassionate care.
