Adventist Health St. Helena receives Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification

Adventist Health St. Helena is proud to announce the completion of The Joint Commission’s stroke survey. With the completion of this survey, Adventist Health St. Helena is recognized for meeting the necessary standards to support better outcomes related to stroke care.

The Joint Commission’s accreditation for Advanced Primary Stroke Center at Adventist Health St. Helena validates the hospital’s abilities and practices in preventing and treating strokes. Those who receive treatment here are guided through a process from beginning to end by a dedicated team specializing in stroke treatment. The goal of the stroke team is to quickly and appropriately care for the stroke patient and return them to a desirable quality of life. This is especially important to the members of the Upper Napa Valley Community, as prompt evaluation and treatment are critical for saving brain function in stroke patients. Now, with certification, our ability to save brain cells combined with the new expedited access to this care means we save both lives and the quality of those lives for our community. Stroke patients can now get to an Advanced Primary Stroke Center within minutes. In addition to the exceptional care offered at Adventist Health St. Helena, an exclusive partnership with the world-class UCSF Neurovascular Disease and Comprehensive Stroke Center brings elevated services to patients as needed.

“We are proud to offer our community comprehensive stroke care services with an exceptional team, the most advanced technology and a compassionate, patient-focused experience,” says Dr. Steven Herber, Adventist Health St. Helena president. “We are lucky to have Dr. Natasa Dragicevic a highly trained neurologist lead the neurology department. She is passionate about stroke treatments and the ability to offer quick assessments for vascular neurology patients.”

Dr. Dragicevic brings more than 20 years of diverse experience including clinical medicine along with basic science and clinical trials. She specializes in behavioral neurology and has additional expertise in movement disorders. “The Joint Commission Accreditation is an acknowledgment of the dedication and level of care we provide our patients,” says Dr. Natasa Dragicevic. “I am proud of the team and their commitment to excellence.”

As an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, Adventist Health St. Helena offers the following standards of care: A dedicated stroke-focused program; medical professionals trained in stroke care; individualized care that specifically meets the needs of stroke patients; patient involvement in their hospital care. The Joint Commission certification marks the culmination of our efforts in training and staffing to ensure the highest level of care.

“I am very proud of the work that we do here at Adventist Health St. Helena and that we will continue to do for the people of this community. Excellent patient care is our highest priority and now that we are an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, I feel confident in our ability to provide excellent state-of-the-art stroke care always guided by the most current research,” says Melissa Davis, RN, SCRN, stroke program manager at Adventist Health St. Helena.

This certification was in part made possible by the St. Helena Hospital Foundation's efforts and its generous donors. “The St. Helena Hospital Foundation is honored to partner with Adventist Health St. Helena in support of the exceptional associates who care for our community,” commented Glen Newhart, president and CEO of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation.