Dignity Health Northern California Division Hospitals Receive ‘Get With the Guidelines’ Awards

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awards recognize five Northern California Dignity Health hospitals for commitment to the highest quality stroke, heart failure, and diabetes care

SAN FRANCISCO (August 18, 2020) – Five of Dignity Health’s Northern California Division hospitals have again received American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines Quality Achievement Awards. These distinctions recognize each hospital’s commitment to ensuring their stroke, heart failure, and diabetes patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines anchored by the latest scientific evidence.

“With strokes, every second counts. Our caregivers are dedicated to providing high quality patient care as quickly as possible to ensure the best outcomes,” said Todd Strumwasser, MD, President of the Northern California Division of Dignity Health. “We are immensely proud to again receive these prestigious recognitions from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.”

The five Dignity Health Northern California Division hospitals—Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mercy Medical Center Redding, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco, and Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City—received the following awards:

• Dominican Hospital received the Stroke Gold Plus Award, Heart Failure Gold Plus Award, Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
• Mercy Medical Center Redding received the Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll.
• Saint Francis Memorial Hospital received the Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
• St. Mary’s Medical Center received the Stroke Gold Plus Award and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
• Sequoia Hospital received the Stroke Gold Plus Award, Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

All five hospitals are certified stroke centers.

The hospitals earned the awards by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke, heart failure, and diabetes patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery, and reducing death and disability. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health and get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 6.5 million adults in the United States have heart failure, contributing to one in eight deaths each year. At least 68 percent of people with diabetes aged 65 and older die of some form of heart disease and 16 percent die from stroke, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

About Dignity Health Northern California Division Hospitals
Dignity Health’s seven accredited, not-for-profit hospitals in Northern California—Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta, Mercy Medical Center Redding, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco, and Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City— have received national recognition for superior safety and quality. Each is passionate about providing an exceptional patient experience, investing in our communities, advocating for the underserved, and delivering quality, affordable health services to anyone in need.

Dominican Hospital is a chest pain center and Santa Cruz County’s STEMI receiving center, and offers the only comprehensive Cancer Center in the county. Dominican’s services include a Total Joint Replacement program, certified Baby-Friendly® maternity and NICU services, state-of-the-art neurological services, and an expert heart and vascular team treating some of the most complex cardiac cases in the Monterey Bay area. https://dignity-health.cshcontentstage.org/dominican

Mercy Medical Center Redding offers comprehensive health care to nearly 300,000 residents in a six-county region. Mercy Medical Center Redding is an award-winning 267-bed regional medical center providing inpatient and outpatient services as well as specialized cardiovascular care, stroke care, orthopedics, neurological surgery, comprehensive cancer care and maternity care. https://dignity-health.cshcontentstage.org/mercy-redding

Saint Francis Memorial Hospital is home to the Bothin Burn Center, the largest dedicated burn unit in Northern California. Saint Francis also features the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, the Gender Institute, and a CARF-accredited Acute Rehabilitation Unit. https://dignity-health.cshcontentstage.org/saintfrancis

St. Mary’s Medical Center opened the nation’s first digital cardiac catheterization laboratory and also houses a Total Joint Center, a Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is recognized for outstanding treatment of stroke. https://dignity-health.cshcontentstage.org/stmarys

Sequoia Hospital, located in Redwood City, is a nationally known pioneer in advanced cardiac care. The Sequoia Birth Center is consistently ranked as a favorite among Peninsula families, and the hospital is known for its Center for Total Joint Replacement. https://dignity-health.cshcontentstage.org/sequoia

About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with tools and resources to increase adherence to the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get WithThe Guidelines has touched the lives of more than nine million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org/quality.

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