Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/823110
More an a Hpital 5 CRHEALTHCARE.ORG The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have awarded Columbus Regional Healthcare System Advanced Disease- Specific Care Certification as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital. This certification is awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous criteria for stroke treatment, including: • A dedicated stroke-focused program • Staffing by qualified medical professionals trained in stroke care • Collaboration with local emergency management agencies • 24/7 ability to perform rapid diagnostic and laboratory testing (a qualified practitioner should assess a suspected stroke patient within 15 minutes of the patient's arrival) • Ability to administer intravenous clot-busting medications to eligible patients • Availability of telemedicine technology "We are proud to have earned the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Certification," says Carla Hollis, CEO of CRHS. "This certification demonstrates our commitment to providing an exemplary standard of care to stroke patients while also addressing the gap in access to acute stroke services. It's just the latest evidence that indicates the extraordinary level of care Columbus County residents can expect from us." Nearly half of Americans live 60 miles or more from a primary or comprehensive stroke center. Having these services available in Columbus County offers residents crucial access to life-saving treatment. Established in 2015, Acute Stroke- Ready Hospital Certification is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals. Ronald P. Glinski, MD, PhD, is the first recipient of Columbus Regional Healthcare System's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to a longtime doctor with a commitment to his patients. Dr. Glinski has worked in Whiteville since 1980, and became employed by Carolinas Physician Network for Columbus Regional Healthcare System and Carolina Urology Associates in 2010. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where he graduated high school and the University of Windsor, Glinski has been a U.S. citizen for years. He did all of his medical studies in the States, beginning with his PhD at Wayne State University and MD at the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Roseleen, were drawn to the community and the commitment to medicine in Columbus County. Often seen with his trademark stethoscope, Dr. Glinski has become a fixture in the CRHS community. "Dr. Glinski brought urology to Whiteville," says hospital staff member Stephanie Miller. "People say he's the only urologist they know with a stethoscope around his neck." Asked if retirement is in his near future, Dr. Glinski says he feels good and will continue to work, but if he does retire, he and his wife plan to stay in Columbus County. In a new tradition, CRHS will present this award to a member of the medical staff every year, on March 30, in honor of National Doctors' Day. SERVICE A Life Of STROKE CARE Certified for STROKE CARE CEO Carla Hollis presents Dr. Glinski with the Lifetime Achievement Award