Dignity Health Stroke Program Recognized Nationally for Stroke Care

CENTRAL COAST, CA – September 8, 2021 – Arroyo Grande Community Hospital (AGCH), and Marian Regional Medical Center (MRMC), Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals, are proud to announce each are recipients of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s 2021 Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. This was awarded to each hospital for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

Stroke is the Number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. 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. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times.

“We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival after a stroke,” said Sue Andersen, President and CEO, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Regional Medical Center. “Get with the Guidelines-Stroke makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis to improve outcomes for stroke patients.”

“We are pleased to recognize Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Regional Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get with the Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

Dignity Health Central Coast hospitals are all designated Primary Stroke Centers, a distinction recognizing facilities that follow the best practices for stroke care. The facilities also provide integrated services in stroke diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. 

The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment and success to ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

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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 With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org/quality.

About Dignity Health Central Coast
Dignity Health of the Central Coast is an integrated network of top quality hospitals, physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services including primary care offices, premier ambulatory surgery centers, technologically-advanced laboratories and imaging centers and a full service home health agency; all recognized for quality, safety and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. For more information visit www.arroyograndehospital.org; www.frenchmedicalcenter.org; www.marianmedicalcenter.org.