Q. Is the organization required to use the NIH Stroke Scale to assess a stroke patient?

A. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS) is an appropriate assessment tool used to determine the neurological status of a stroke patient. The Joint Commission does not prescribe use of specific assessment scales or tools.  Organizations need to determine which assessment tool will be utilized based on selected Clinical Practice Guidelines.  The organization should also define the parameters for assessing and by whom the assessments will be conducted.