CARF International announced that Good Samaritan has been accredited for a period of three years for its Rehabilitation program. The latest accreditation is the 13th consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has awarded to Good Samaritan. For the first time, the Rehabilitation Center also achieved a Three-Year Accreditation for stroke care.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

“Our Rehabilitation Center has always been on the forefront of health care,” said Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan. “They are always willing to learn new things and want to ensure they are providing their patients with the best care possible. I could not be more proud of the rehabilitation team for receiving this accreditation.”

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. The accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

“Receiving our accreditation from CARF was extra special this year, as we were also granted a three year status on our delivery of stroke care,” stated Stephen Wissel, Director of the Rehabilitation Center. “Good Samaritan’s Rehabilitation Center provides our patients with excellent outcomes, enabling most to return home after a major health care crisis.”

The Rehabilitation Center treats more than 100 stroke patients every year and one of the department’s main goals is to increase the awareness of stroke symptoms, even in the younger population. The quicker the patient gets access to care, the better chance there is for recovery. The Rehabilitation Center promotes the following national stroke emergency FAST campaign:

F – Does one side of the FACE droop?

A – Is one ARM weaker than the other?

S – Is SPEECH slurred?

T – TIME…If you observe any of these signs, get help immediately.

The Rehabilitation Center is now offering a free Stroke Awareness and Support Clinic every third Thursday each month from 2:30 to 3:30 pm (EST) on the second floor of Columbian Tower West, accessible by the sixth street Grouseland entrance. The clinic allows attendees to meet some of the rehabilitation nurses, speak with the therapists and take part in free health screenings, such as blood pressure, grip strength, fall risk / balance assessment and accu checks. For additional information, contact Good Samaritan’s Rehabilitation Center at 812-885-3601.