Stroke care nationally recognized

UF Health Jacksonville has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care. This is the first time the hospital has achieved this national award.

With this designation, the AHA recognizes hospitals that ensure stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

According to the AHA, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Ramon Bautista, MD, MBA, University of Florida professor of neurology and chair of the Department of Neurology at UF Health Jacksonville, called the award an honor and one that confirms the hospital’s commitment to care.

“We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to providing quality care and improving outcomes for our stroke patients,” Bautista said. “As a Comprehensive Stroke Center, we continually strive to provide exceptional care to improve the health of the individuals and communities we serve. All this would not have been possible without the dedication of those individuals who comprise our Comprehensive Stroke Program under the leadership of Dr. Scott Silliman.”

UF Health Jacksonville also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Elite award for meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

In addition, the hospital received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award, which aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Get With The Guidelines 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.

Learn more about the Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke program.