Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Center Certification from the Joint Commission
Bronson Battle Creek Hospital has been officially certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, upgrading its designation from an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital. The designation follows a , survey that praised the hospital’s stroke care as exceeding national benchmarks.
This certification means patients in Calhoun County have access to faster, more advanced stroke care close to home. It also strengthens Bronson’s regional stroke network, anchored by Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo—the most awarded Comprehensive Stroke Center in Southwest Michigan and recently ranked #1 in Michigan for stroke care by Healthgrades ®.
Primary Stroke Center certification is awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous standards for rapid stroke evaluation, clot-busting treatment, evidence-based therapies, patient education and discharge planning. Bronson Battle Creek Hospital not only met these requirements; it surpassed them.
“Every minute counts in stroke care,” said Dr. Robert Prodinger, Stroke Medical Director at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. “This certification reflects our team’s commitment to delivering timely, high-quality care that goes beyond national benchmarks.”
In 2024, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital treated 180 stroke patients, achieving treatment times that significantly outperformed national goals:
- CT scan: 11 minutes for ambulance arrivals; 18 minutes for walk-ins (national goal: ≤25 minutes)
- Clot-busting medication: 52 minutes (national goal: ≤60 minutes)
The hospital also is a five-star recipient for treatment of stroke care for two years in a row by Healthgrades ®.
“This milestone is an important step for our community and strengthens our regional stroke network” said Dr. Larry Morgan, Bronson Healthcare Medical Director of Neurocritical Care & Stroke and Comprehensive Stroke Medical Director at Bronson Methodist Hospital. “It gives patients the best chance at recovery without having to travel far.”
Stroke patients at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, benefit from a 24/7 care team supported by advanced imaging such as CT and MRI, lab services, neurologist consultations, rehabilitation specialists and the latest clot-busting therapies including Tenecteplase.
To learn more about stroke care at Bronson, visit bronsonhealth.com/stroke.
