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Sydney Adventist Hospital has become the first private hospital in Australia to receive an Angels Award from the World Stroke Organisation, achieving gold status for stroke care.
The award recognises hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality care for stroke patients – who suffer interruption of blood flow to the brain – from rapid diagnosis through to timely treatment.
To coincide with the recognition, clinical teams at New South Wales' largest private hospital – also known as the San – participated in a live stroke simulation, demonstrating the facility's coordinated and rapid response capabilities.
San staff participated in a live stroke case simulation
The simulation followed the full patient journey, from arrival in emergency through to diagnostic imaging and treatment decision-making, showcasing the teamwork and clinical precision required to deliver effective stroke care, when every minute matters.
Adventist HealthCare CEO Brett Goods said the Angels Award built on the hospital's strong foundations in stroke services.
"Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in Australia, and with numbers rising as our population ages, delivering fast, effective care has never been more important," he said.
"This recognition reflects consistently high standards in how quickly, safely and effectively we treat patients experiencing stroke, where every minute matters.
"I'm incredibly proud of our stroke team and their ongoing commitment to continuously improving stroke care for our community."
The San is one of 40 hospitals in NSW participating in the RISE program – Realising Improvement in Stroke – which focuses on improving patient outcomes and setting global benchmarks.
The hospital is also accredited as a Primary Stroke Centre by the Australian Stroke Coalition, with certification valid through to 2028.
Mr Goods said stroke care at the San was delivered by a "highly-skilled multidisciplinary team".
It is led by Dr Kong Chung and Stroke Clinical Nurse Consultant Krista Dormitorio, whose "leadership, expertise and commitment continue to raise the bar for stroke care in the community".
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