HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital Awarded Primary Stroke Certification from Joint Commission

The East Lee County Chamber of Commerce is proud to share this milestone from one of our valued members and healthcare partners, HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital.

If you’d like to read HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital’s full write-up, read it here.

HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Certification

HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital has earned Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Certification.

The Certification Review Process

HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital underwent a rigorous, onsite review on June 26, 2026. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including stroke program leadership, rapid assessment and treatment processes, interdisciplinary clinical care, patient and caregiver education, performance improvement activities, and ongoing monitoring of patient outcomes. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The reviewer also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

What Health Leaders Are Saying

“Primary Stroke 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 executive, Joint Commission. “We commend HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital for using Joint Commission’s 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.”

“We congratulate HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital 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.”

“This certification is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our physicians, nurses and entire care team, who work every day to ensure patients experiencing a stroke receive timely, high-quality care,” said Paige Laughlin, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital. “Earning The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification reflects our commitment to providing advanced stroke care close to home and our ongoing investment in clinical excellence. Our community can be confident that when every minute matters, they have access to nationally recognized stroke care right here in Lehigh Acres.”

A Team Effort Across the Hospital

This certification is the result of months of collaboration among our quality teams, emergency department, physicians, nurses, imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, rehabilitation services, EMS partners and countless others who worked together to build and strengthen our stroke program. Because of your efforts, we are now better equipped than ever to serve our community in moments that matter most.

Learn More

For more information, please visit Joint Commission’s website.