NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Achieves Prestigious Joint Commission Recertification as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center

NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Achieves Prestigious Joint Commission Recertification as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center

Certification recognizes the hospital's commitment to providing high-quality, life-saving care for acute stroke patients

Aug 13, 2026

Bronx, NY - NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln announced today that the hospital has once again earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Associations' Heart-Check mark for Advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center (TSC) Certification. This distinction highlights the highest level of quality provided in the care of patients with stroke-related diagnoses. The Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center certification is awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous national quality standards. To achieve this distinction, Lincoln Hospital successfully underwent a strict on-site review by surveyors from The Joint Commission, a global driver of quality improvement and patient safety in health care. They verified that the facility meets all Primary Stroke Center requirements while proving advanced capabilities in neurointerventional procedures.

"This accreditation is a testament to the tireless commitment of so many teams within the hospital that go above and beyond to provide the highest quality of care for our stroke patients," said Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC, DHL, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Chief Executive Officer. "Earning this certification is confirmation of our continued commitment to excellence and patient-centered care, which ensures that our South Bronx community receives the very best in stroke prevention and treatment."

"This Joint Commission gold seal of approval acknowledges the amazing and life-saving work of our Stroke Center team under the leadership of Dr. Manmeet Kaur Gujral," said Lewis Marshall, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. "Time is critical during a stroke, as millions of neurons begin to die within minutes of an interruption in blood flow. This certification assures our community that patients experiencing severe strokes can receive rapid, specialized endovascular treatments closer to home, greatly improving survival outcomes and reducing long-term disability."

The Stroke Center of Excellence at Lincoln Hospital has been a designated Primary Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health since 2005, the firstsite designated in the Bronx, as well as the first among the 11 NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. The Center provides comprehensive care for patients, including 24/7 rapid testing, urgent stroke care and a vascular neurosurgery program for complex conditions like ruptured aneurysms. The Stroke Center is staffed by a specialized, multidisciplinary team which includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency physicians, radiologists, rehabilitation therapists, and specialized nurses. The clinical staff is backed by support staff who provide care and guidance with resources to patients during hospitalization and after discharge to the community, including a dedicated stroke support group.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Natasha Burke, 929-837-9166; [email protected]

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, located in the South Bronx, is a 362-bed, Acute Care Level 1 Trauma Center and sees more than 168,000 emergency room visits and more than 600,000 outpatient visits annually. Clinical centers of excellence include: Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Breast Imaging; Designated Stroke Center, Diabetes Center and HIV/AIDS Center. Lincoln Hospital was the first Baby-Friendly designated hospital in the Bronx, providing clinical services and consultations for over 1,500 deliveries per year. The hospital emphasizes primary care and specialty medicine, using the latest advances in medical science. Lincoln is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health care system in the nation. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/lincoln or follow us on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/LincolnHospBX and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LincolnHosp.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.