Primary Stroke Centre (PSC) Certification
DNV’s Primary Stroke Centre (PSC) certification demonstrates your hospital’s commitment to high-quality stroke care by verifying compliance with core standards for timely and effective treatment.
Primary Stroke Centre (PSC) Certification
Challenges in primary stroke centre certification
Primary stroke centres (PSCs) are essential hubs within regional stroke care systems. These hospitals must be equipped to rapidly assess, treat, and stabilize a wide range of stroke cases – often receiving patients transferred from smaller acute stroke ready (ASR) facilities. Primary stroke centres can treat a broad range of stroke conditions, can provide some acute therapies, and can admit patients to a designated stroke unit or to beds specifically assigned for stroke care.
Certification ensures these hospitals meet national expectations for quality, safety, and coordination. It also helps build trust among patients, EMS providers, and regional partners, while supporting compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
How our PSC certification supports you
DNV’s PSC certification is designed for medium to large hospitals that admit most of their stroke patients and often serve as receiving centres for ASR facility transfers.
PSC certification confirms that a hospital has the essential stroke infrastructure and processes in place. This includes verified protocols, equipment and infrastructure, and dedicated care teams trained in best practices for acute stroke treatment.
Elevating stroke care standards
Discover how DNV’s Acute Stroke Ready (ASR) Certification helps hospitals strengthen their response systems, enhance coordination, and deliver faster, evidence-based care for every patient.
Trusted experts in healthcare
We go beyond accreditation. DNV’s ISO-based certification model integrates continuous improvement into your stroke care delivery.
Our surveyors are healthcare experts focused on education as well as evaluation.
Benefits of our stroke centre certification services
- Based on our NIAHO® quality framework and ISO 9001 principles.
- Improve care coordination and treatment speed.
- Strengthen community and EMS relationships.
- Increase visibility with referring providers.
- Enable future growth toward advanced certification.
Resources to support your stroke certification
Access essential materials to help guide your certification journey - from program standards to readiness tools.
Integrated stroke center program requirements
Explore the foundational requirements for integrated stroke systems to align with DNV’s tiered certification framework.
Stroke programs service line brochure
Learn how DNV’s stroke certification programs work together to elevate quality, performance, and patient outcomes across all levels of care.
Download the DNV Acute Stroke Ready program requirements
Download the full ASR program standards and discover how certification supports readiness, coordination, and quality in time-sensitive stroke care.
Download the DNV Primary Stroke Certification Requirements
Access the detailed criteria hospitals must meet to achieve DNV’s Primary Stroke Certification and demonstrate excellence in patient outcomes.
Download the DNV Primary Stroke Plus Certification Requirements
Review the enhanced standards for stroke centers seeking advanced readiness and integrated response capabilities.
Download the DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification Requirements
Understand the requirements for hospitals providing the highest level of stroke care, from complex cases to specialized interventions.
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