UCI Health — Lakewood is a Comprehensive Stroke Center
Certification affirms the community network hospital’s ability to treat the most complex stroke cases 24/7
Orange, Calif. — UCI Health — Lakewood has earned Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, the highest level of designation for stroke care possible from DNV Healthcare.
The three-year certification means that the facility has the capability to provide rapid, high-quality treatment 24 hours a day for patients with stroke and complex cerebrovascular conditions who require intensive medical and surgical care. Comprehensive stroke centers have the expertise to provide the highest level of care for the most complex cases.
“I am immensely proud of our dedicated team of highly trained specialists who have put so much effort toward this award,” said Lakewood CEO Fred Valtairo.
“We are honored to provide advanced neurological & stroke care to the Lakewood community and remain steadfast in our unwavering commitment to improve the lives of our patients. Providing the best possible outcomes for our stroke patients through timely treatment is what we strive for.”
‘Time is brain’
Acting quickly during the first few moments of a stroke can improve survival, minimize disability and accelerate recovery times. Prompt treatment can also significantly improve the likelihood of a full recovery. Experts emphasize that “time is brain.”
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors, such as high blood pressure.
Leader in stroke care
UCI Health is a proud leader in stroke care throughout the region.
UCI Health — Orange is home to Orange County’s first Joint Commission-certified comprehensive stroke center, equipped to provide rapid treatment for patients with acute stroke and complex cerebrovascular diseases — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In 2025, four UCI Health hospitals received the 2025 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the Association’s Stroke and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Awards.
The hospitals — UCI Health — Orange, formerly known as UCI Medical Center, along with community network locations UCI Health — Fountain Valley, UCI Health — Lakewood and UCI Health — Los Alamitos — received the same designations in 2024, which recognize hospitals that demonstrate specific capabilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.