Rockaway’s St. John’s Episcopal Hospital has once again been recognized for its excellence in stroke care, earning reaccreditation as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center from The Joint Commission (TJC), one of the nation’s most respected health care accrediting bodies.
The prestigious Gold Seal of Approval®, awarded following a rigorous on-site review in February 2025, signifies the hospital’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care for patients experiencing stroke.
“This reaccreditation is a reflection of our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering timely, life-saving care to stroke patients,” said Donald T. Morrish, MD, MMM, Chief Executive Officer of Episcopal Health Services, the health system that oversees St. John’s. “At EHS, we understand that every second counts, and we are proud to provide this level of care to the communities we serve.”
As the only hospital located on the Rockaway Peninsula, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital plays a critical role in ensuring timely stroke care for residents of Far Rockaway and surrounding neighborhoods. The Advanced Primary Stroke Center designation means the hospital has the staff, technology, and protocols in place to rapidly diagnose and treat strokes, a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and every three minutes and 11 seconds, someone dies from one. St. John’s accreditation ensures local patients have access to care that meets national standards for outcomes, safety and speed.
“Earning reaccreditation is a testament to the coordination, training, and dedication of every team member involved in stroke care,” said Karen Paige, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Episcopal Health Services. “It takes collaboration, consistency, and a shared commitment to excellence to deliver care at this level, and I’m grateful to our team for rising to the challenge every day.”
Robert Bloise Jr., DMSc, MS, PA-C, Chief Quality Officer at EHS, added that the recognition reflects the hospital’s long-term dedication to continuous improvement. “This recognition highlights the dedication and hard work of our clinical and quality teams, who consistently go above and beyond to meet and exceed national benchmarks,” he said. “Reaccreditation reinforces our ongoing commitment to improving stroke care and delivering excellent outcomes, year after year.”
This latest recognition follows another major milestone for St. John’s. The hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold-Plus Get With the Guidelines® – Stroke Quality Achievement Award for eight consecutive years, underlining its consistent delivery of best-practice, guideline-based care that improves survival and recovery for stroke patients.
