Kaweah Health Nationally Recognized for It's High-Quality Stroke Care
July 9, 2026
Kaweah Health has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its 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.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the US, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability, and supporting faster recovery.
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into 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 designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.
“Providing excellent stroke care doesn’t begin when a patient arrives at the hospital. It starts with helping people recognize the signs of stroke and seek emergency care as quickly as possible,” said Cheryl Smit, RN, Kaweah Health stroke program manager. “This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to delivering evidence-based care while continuing to educate our community, because acting fast can make all the difference.”
Kaweah Health also received the American Heart Association’s Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
In addition, Kaweah Health 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.
“We are proud to recognize Kaweah Health for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families, and communities.”
Kaweah Health has also earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Primary Stroke Center Accreditation, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
