Aspirus Eagle River Hospital earns stroke readiness certification

April 13, 2026

EAGLE RIVER – Aspirus Eagle River Hospital has received the Gold Seal of Approval for Acute Stroke Ready Certification from The Joint Commission.

The certification follows an on-site review conducted in November, during which evaluators assessed the hospital’s program management, clinical care processes and performance improvement efforts.

Ken Grubbs – executive vice president of accreditation and certification operations and chief nursing officer, Joint Commission – said the designation reflects the organization’s ability to provide timely, evidence-based care for stroke patients.

Grubbs said Acute Stroke Ready hospitals are equipped to quickly assess, stabilize and treat patients, improving outcomes when every second counts.

Donny Abraham – chief administrative officer, Aspirus Health’s North Division – said the hospital’s stroke team includes staff from multiple disciplines who focus on rapid response, ongoing training and patient education.

Abraham said efforts also include raising awareness of stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes.

The recognition, he said, underscores the hospital’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality stroke care in the Northwoods and improving outcomes for patients across the region.

“It’s more than meeting standards – it’s about consistently raising the bar to ensure every patient receives the highest level of care when every second counts,” he said. “We remain dedicated to advancing stroke education and fostering a culture of excellence across all the communities we serve.”