Joint Commission reinstates volume requirement for stroke center certification programs

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission on January 23 announced that it is reinstating the individual mechanical thrombectomy volume eligibility requirement for the Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) and Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) certification programs. The Joint Commission is also implementing a revised volume requirement in 6 months that expands which physicians the requirement applies to.

Eligibility criteria are:

• Effective February 1, 2019: Primary neuro-interventionists at an organization applying for TSC or CSC certification or recertification must have performed 15 mechanical thrombectomies during the past 12 months or 30 during the past 24 months.
• Effective August 1, 2019: Revised volume criteria will be effective for all physicians who perform mechanical thrombectomy at an organization applying for TSC or CSC certification.

The Joint Commission announced the suspension of individual physicians procedural volume and training eligibility requirements in October 2018.