Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital becomes Certified Primary Stroke Center

The Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital has been named a Certified Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. 

The designation is designed for hospitals providing the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.

A stroke, which is when blood flow to the brain is blocked, can happen at any age, and early intervention is crucial. 

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke claimed more lives in 2021 than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined in the United States. 

Now that the hospital has earned the designation, all Orlando Health hospitals in Florida are equipped to care for stroke patients.

Patients suffering from a stroke will have access to a highly trained, coordinated team when they enter the emergency room at the hospital. Those suffering from a stroke will no longer need to be transferred to a different hospital unless they require surgical intervention. 

The team at the hospital said they have been researching, preparing and training staff members to earn the designation for nearly a year. Medical professionals in the emergency room and inpatient units have received specialized stroke education that will be reviewed annually. In addition, everyone working inside the hospital has been trained on the “BE FAST” acronym — balance, eyes, face, arm, speech, time — to recognize stroke signs and symptoms. 

“Since opening the hospital in 2021, we’ve focused on building new programs that will serve our community,” Maggie Bonko, Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital president, said. “We want our neighbors to feel confident that we are here to support them and provide the best care possible during health emergencies.” 

The Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital is located at 17000 Porter Road, Winter Garden. 

For more information on the hospital, click here or call (407) 407-0000.

For more information on The Joint Commission's Certified Primary Stroke Center designation, click here.