Dignity Health North State Hospitals Earn National Recognition for Heart Attack and Stroke Care

REDDING, Calif. (July 25, 2024) — Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center Redding, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta have received multiple awards from the American Heart Association for their adherence to research-based guidelines in treating heart attacks and strokes. These practices lead to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer hospital readmissions. 

Mercy Medical Center Redding (Advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center) received two awards: 

• Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Award 
  • Target: Type 2 Diabetes
• Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award
  • Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll
  • Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
  • Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll

St. Elizabeth Community Hospital (Certified Primary Stroke Center) received two awards: 

• Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award
  • Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll
  • Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Rural Recognition Silver Award

Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta (Certified Primary Stroke Center) received one award: 

• Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Rural Recognition Silver Award

"Being nationally recognized for our heart attack and stroke care is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care,” said Rodger Page, Dignity Health North State Market President. “This prestigious honor reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire medical team, who work tirelessly to provide the highest quality treatment and support to those in their time of greatest need.” 

“Immediate care is crucial when experiencing a stroke, as timely intervention can significantly improve outcomes and save lives. This recognition underscores the importance of rapid response and the advanced care we provide to our community,” added G. Todd Smith, President, Mercy Medical Center Redding. 

Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a heart attack caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Like all heart attacks,

this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center (Mercy Medical Center Redding) is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI. 

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. 

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Mercy Medical Center Redding, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta for their commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., 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.” 

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About Dignity Health 

Dignity Health is a multi-state nonprofit network of 10,000 physicians, more than 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Dignity Health is a part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system committed to advancing health for all people and dedicated to serving the common good. For more information, please visit our website at www.DignityHealth.org. 

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 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 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.