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Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Achieves Primary Stroke Certification

March 2, 2023

NIAGARA FALLS, NY — Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC) proudly announces its Stroke Center has achieved Primary Stroke certification through the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

“This is an important milestone for Niagara Falls Memorial. To date, Memorial has been a  primary stroke center designated by the New York Stated Department of Health,” said Joseph Ruffolo, Chief Executive Officer of  Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

Mr. Ruffolo continued, “This accreditation by a national organization validates the excellent care we provide to our stroke patients and demonstrates our commitment to a higher standard of clinical service.

“When it comes to the brain, our motto is: ‘minutes matter,’” said Mr. Ruffolo. “Our team at NFMMC is trained and prepared to minimize the time between the onset of stroke and the beginning of treatment.”

Certification is a process through which healthcare organizations demonstrate compliance with national standards. Certification by ACHC reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that facilitate higher performance and better patient outcomes.

ACHC is a nonprofit organization that has stood as a symbol of quality and excellence since 1986. ACHC has CMS deeming authority in acute care hospitals and in a variety of other healthcare facilities.

“The certification process is an extensive evaluation of policies, procedures, and stroke patient reviews,” said Gerald Gorman, M.D., FACEP, Emergency Physician and Medical Director of Emergency Center at NFMMC. “Achieving certification is a validation of everyone’s efforts in our stroke program, as it demonstrates that we adhere to the principles and standards in the treatment of stroke patients.”

A pioneer in stroke care, NFMMC was the first medical center in Niagara County activated to participate in the New York State Department of Health’s REACH Telemedicine Stroke Care Program. In 2010, NFMMC earned recognition as Niagara County’s first designated stroke center, part of a statewide effort to improve quality health care for stroke patients through enhanced policies, protocols, rapid evaluation, and treatment.

“I am honored to be part of the stroke team at NFMCC that provides state-of-the-art care to the community,” said Kenneth V. Snyder, MD, Ph.D., FAANS, neurosurgeon at University at Buffalo Neurosurgery. “Our partnership is important as it allows us to only transfer patients requiring advanced services, while keeping everyone else needing non-urgent treatment and risk factor reduction services within their community hospital.” 

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is also a seven-time recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Gold-Plus Quality Achievement. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER

Founded in 1895, NFMCC is a hospital located in downtown Niagara Falls, NY, serving the Greater Niagara region for over 100 years. NFMMC is a full-service, 171-bed regional medical center with extensive inpatient and outpatient services, that includes the Stroke Center, Heart Center of Niagara, Niagara Wellness Connection Center, Wound Center of Niagara, The OB/GYN Center, and UBMD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. 

For more information, please visit www.nfmmc.org.

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