AVMC Earns Prestigious Thrombectomy-Capable Certification, Setting a New Standard in Patient Care

(LANCASTER, Calif., October 16, 2023) — Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Thrombectomy-Capable Certification.

AVMC underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review earlier this year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including Clinical Information Management; Performance Measurement; Program Management; Supporting Self-Management; and Delivering or Facilitating Care. 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.

“Thrombectomy-Capable 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 Antelope Valley 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 Antelope Valley Medical Center 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.”

As a Thrombectomy Capable Center, AVMC performs Mechanical Thrombectomy (clot retrieval), which is a procedure for patients experiencing an ischemic stroke caused by a blockage in a large vessel in the brain. A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel along with a device to physically remove the blockage from the blocked vessel in the brain. Patients are only eligible up to the first 24-hours after their stroke began. This procedure is performed by an interventional neurologist and AVMC is currently the only hospital in the region with the capability to perform this procedure.

“This certification is a true testament to the meticulous work and commitment that our staff and physicians have for our patients and this hospital,” says Edward Mirzabegian, Chief Executive Officer, Antelope Valley Medical Center. “I appreciate the leadership of our stroke medical directors: Dr. Shanmugam and Dr. Salahuddin, and ED Physician stroke champion Dr. Ansari, along with the Core Stroke team. It was truly a team effort, and I applaud the various units that participated, for their thoroughness and preparation in passing this certification.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website, or to learn more about AVMC’s Thrombectomy Capable program, please visit www.avmc.org/stroke.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), the only full-service, acute-care hospital located in Lancaster, CA. AVMC has been delivering exceptional care to the community since 1955. It offers the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, Pediatric unit, Level IIIB NICU, Inpatient Behavioral Health Department, Labor and Delivery, Accredited Chest Pain Center/STEMI Receiving Center, Advanced Primary & Comprehensive Stroke Center and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center, and a Thrombectomy Capable Center. More information is available at www.avmc.org or by calling (661) 949-5000. Follow us @avmedicalcenter

Photo caption: Antelope Valley Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for the Thrombectomy Capable Certification (TSC).