Adventist Health Hanford and Adventist Health Tulare have both received quality achievement awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®️ - Stroke program. Adventist Health Hanford has earned the Gold Plus award for the fifth year in a row, while Adventist Health Tulare has been recognized with its first Silver award.

This recognition is given to healthcare organizations that demonstrate commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Adventist Health Hanford, which is certified as a Primary Stroke Center, also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™️ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times.

The Get With The Guidelines initiative puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“Adventist Health is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Ghassan Jamaleddine, MD, medical officer of Adventist Health Central California Network. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Hanford and Tulare can experience longer, healthier lives.”

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Adventist Health Hanford and Adventist Health Tulare for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

This original article was published on the Adventist Health website.