Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital designated Primary Stroke Center
Hospital provides highest level of stroke care available in Lycoming and Clinton counties
Designation as a Primary Stroke Center signifies that a hospital is providing the level of care necessary to achieve long-term successful outcomes for stroke patients, and GJSH provides this level of stroke care close to home for residents of Lycoming and Clinton counties. GJSH is also a Critical Access Hospital, a designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities.
“Very few Critical Access Hospitals across the nation are recognized as Primary Stroke Centers, and we are honored to receive this recognition,” said Jason Schauer, M.D., emergency medicine physician at GJSH. “Our patients and their families can stay close to home while receiving the highest level of stroke care available in the community.”
“When it comes to stroke care, every second counts,” said Mitch Onken, M.D., Geisinger neurologist. “Geisinger is dedicated to providing world-class care close to home in all of the communities we serve, and this certification recognizes our stroke team’s commitment to that goal.”
Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital recently opened an on-site helipad, reducing transport time for patients who need advanced care at a Comprehensive Stroke Center, like Geisinger Medical Center or Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
“We congratulate Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital for this outstanding achievement,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects Geisinger’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”
A stroke occurs when blood and oxygen can’t flow to the brain as normal. There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke, the most common, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked, and hemorrhagic stroke, which indicates bleeding in the brain. Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke every four minutes. For every minute that a stroke is left untreated, up to 2 million brain cells die, so seeking immediate medical attention is critical to a successful recovery.
Geisinger’s nationally recognized Acute Stroke Program includes 24/7 stroke care at all of our hospitals, two Comprehensive Stroke Centers designated by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association, at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Primary Stroke Center hospitals, and research-proven care that helps people recover from stroke with fewer disabilities. To learn more, visit geisinger.org/stroke.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
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