Message from Brian Shockney, Indiana University Health

​Community Partners and Leaders –
 
The Herald-Times recently published an online article with the headline, “IU Health Bloomington has lost a stroke certification. What that means for patients.” That headline was irresponsible and harmful to the patients seeking care in the South Central Region. Nothing has changed regarding the excellent and timely way we care for our stroke patients.
 
Like other organizations in our great community, the exaggeration and inaccuracies that have become commonplace in our national and now local news create mistrust and harm relationships among those who seek to do good in the lives of others.
 
IU Health Bloomington did not ‘lose’ a certification; we chose not to renew the voluntary certification as the certification application and process came during the most significant surge in the pandemic. Anything stated to the contrary is untrue.

Here is the truth. IU Health Bloomington provides high levels of care for our patients, including those with stroke symptoms and a diagnosis of stroke. In fact, anything to the contrary fails to highlight the excellent care and recognition we have received, such as a “high-performing” rating from the US News and World Report and a Gold Plus: Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite status from the American Heart Association. It fails to recognize the late nights and early mornings our caregivers experience when attending to a patient and the sacrifices they make every day to deliver care to all people.
 
Hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country have been faced with significant challenges over the past two and a half years. These challenges have required resources focused on the direct care of patients and ensuring ongoing healthcare delivery for those who seek services. This has required continual evaluation of voluntary and non-required certifications and programs that shift our caregivers away from the bedside and can add to the cost of healthcare.
 
IU Health Bloomington has followed and exceeded nationally accepted and approved protocols and guidelines for stroke care for our patients.
 
The article also stated, ‘the lack of certification may mean some patients will have to be transferred,’ which is also untrue.
 
The article is the latest in a string of many, that fails to showcase what—and who—makes our hospital and its Physicians, Nurses, and all other Professionals what it is—a space for healing, birthing, repairing, transitioning and caring.
 
IU Health has continued to invest in its Neurology program by increasing the number of providers over the past five years. We continue to recruit Neurologists to our community to provide additional providers.
 
As members of the Bloomington, Monroe County, and South Central Indiana communities, you can be assured that IU Health Bloomington ensures and measures adherence to national and medically proven best practices and guidelines.

Brian Shockney
President
IU Health South Central Region