WSO Certification of Stroke Centers in India

08 Dec 2022

The organization of acute stroke care can decrease disability and mortality for stroke implementing the evidence-based strategies: stroke units with a multidisciplinary team and basic protocols for stroke care, thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy treatment. Sometimes the reperfusion treatment is implemented but the simple protocols are not: swallowing assessment, early mobilization, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary rounds, meetings of the stroke team for education and case discussion, continuous training for professionals, quality indicators registry and monitoring. All this protocols are fundamental for better outcomes.

An effective way to ensure the implementation of all evidence-based strategy is the certification program. For this, WSO launched the Certification of Stroke Centers as a free certification program for private and public hospitals and it is based on the WSO Roadmap for Quality Stroke Care. The roadmap is a resource that provides the framework for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of stroke services globally and recommends the professionals, infrastructure and protocols to be implemented in the stroke services, classified as Essential and Advanced. To receive the certification the center should demonstrate 100% of mandatory elements and at least 75% of the other recommended resources implemented. The process starts with a self assessment tool to the hospitals evaluate if they already have the criteria for certification. If the hospital is ready, it can apply for certification and upload the confirmatory documents in the platform. After, is scheduled an onsite visit by a stroke neurologist. After the visit the evaluator presents the Stroke Center to an international board review that gives the final approval. The program started in 2021 in Latin America and have now 37 hospitals certified.

On 1^st November, 2022 at New Delhi during the National Stroke Summit organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) was launched the World Stroke Organization and National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH) joint Stroke center certification program. The goal is to certify 25 to 30 hospitals in 1 year increasing the quality of services in the region and improving outcomes.

Stroke is the one of the leading cause of death and disability in India. Each year 1.8 million new stroke cases occur in the country and every 40 seconds one Indian suffers a stroke. One stroke death occurs every 4 minutes in the nation. Stroke is a preventable and treatable disease. The majority of the stroke units in the country are in the private sector hospitals. There are few States where stroke units have been developed in Government hospitals. The reperfusion treatment is expensive and unaffordable to many patients. Recently the Government of India has included stroke care packages including thrombolysis, stroke unit care and thrombectomy in the Universal health coverage scheme. WSO and NABH stroke certification will create the delivery of stroke care across the country in a standardized way promoting high quality stroke care.

The first onsite visit was already done by the WSO President Sheila Martins at the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, Punjab, stroke service lead by Jeyaraj Pandian. Very soon other hospitals will be ready for certification.

You can know more: https://www.globalstrokealliance.com/india/

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