July 20, 2026 – 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.
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.
“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.”
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.
For more information, please visit Joint Commission’s website.
About HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital
HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission with the Gold Seal of Approval and has earned The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification, reflecting its commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based stroke care. An 88-bed acute-care facility, HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital has proudly served its five-county community in Lehigh Acres, Florida, since 1965. Committed to the care and improvement of human life, the hospital has been named a Patient Safety Excellence Award winner for the past eight years. HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital provides specialty care services that include cardiology, emergency care, gastroenterology, imaging services, infectious disease, inpatient physical and occupational therapy, neurology, orthopedic care, joint replacement, minimally invasive robotic surgery, podiatry, surgery, tele-psychiatry, vascular care, wound care, and certified stroke care. As part of the largest network of physicians, nurses and care sites in Florida, HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital’s experienced care teams are focused on listening to patients, understanding their needs and delivering a personalized care experience.
Learn more about HCA Florida Lehigh Hospital and follow the hospital on Facebook.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues working together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 11.6 million patient encounters each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provides more than $903 million in uncompensated care and contributes $2.2 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly-trained specialists, including the state’s largest cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.