UP Health System – Portage Achieves Acute Stroke Ready Hospital Certification

HANCOCK, Mich (April 18, 2025) — UP Health System – Portage (UPHS – Portage) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Acute Stroke Ready Hospital Certification.

UPHS – Portage underwent a rigorous onsite review on March 10 as part of the process to achieve the certification. During the visit, The Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including timeliness of stroke treatment, compliance with established stroke care guidelines, program management and delivering and facilitating clinical care. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“Acute Stroke Readiness Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing officer, The Joint Commission. “We commend UPHS – Portage for using The Joint Commission certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served.”

Certification means that UPHS – Portage has demonstrated a commitment to providing the highest quality care when evaluated against meticulous standards of performance for stroke. Adhering to national standards and guidelines can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

“We congratulate UPHS – Portage for this outstanding achievement,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Stroke Association. “This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients.”

Stroke is a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability for Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, one in six deaths from cardiovascular disease was due to stroke. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3 minutes and 11 seconds in the United States.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely decreased, which deprives the brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die within minutes of a stroke. 

The symptoms of a stroke are distinct because they happen suddenly. Call 911 if you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes  
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination  
• Severe headache with no known cause

“We’re excited to announce this new certification for UPHS – Portage. It’s the next step in the journey of providing an exceptional level of care for our patients,” said Ryan Heinonen, chief executive officer, UPHS – Portage. “The gratitude goes beyond one single person — we owe this recognition to the efforts of our stroke-readiness team. It’s a privilege to work alongside them as we support the people of the Copper Country, with the goal of saving lives and improving quality of life for patients across our region and beyond.”

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission website. For information at UPHS – Portage, visit UPHealthSystem.com.