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Dignity Health Bay Area Hospitals Receive ‘Get With the Guidelines’ Stroke Gold Plus Awards

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American Heart Association/American Stroke Association awards recognize four Bay Area hospitals for commitment to the highest quality stroke care

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (June 25, 2019) – Dignity Health’s four Bay Area hospitals have each received Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

“We are so proud of this prestigious recognition from the American Heart Association,” said Todd Strumwasser, MD, president of the Northern California division of Dignity Health. “We know that with stroke, every second counts, and our caregivers are dedicated to providing high quality patient care as quickly and safely as possible.”

Three of Dignity Health’s Bay Area hospitals, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, and St. Mary’s Medical Center also earned placement on the Stroke Honor Roll. 

The hospitals earned the awards by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke 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 for stroke patients. 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 No. 5 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.

About Dignity Health Bay Area Hospitals
Dignity Health includes four accredited, not-for-profit hospitals in the Bay Area – Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, and Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. All four hospitals are Certified Stroke Centers, offer emergency services, and have received national recognition for superior safety and quality. dignityhealth.org/bayarea

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. www.dignityhealth.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. www.dignityhealth.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. www.dignityhealth.org/sequoia

Dominican Hospital is a chest pain center and Santa Cruz County’s only heart attack receiving center, and offers the only comprehensive Cancer Center in the county. Dominican’s services include a Total Joint Replacement program, maternity and NICU services, and the hospital is a leading provider of neurological services. www.dignityhealth.org/dominican  

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

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Publish date: 

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Media Contact


Christine McMurry, Director of External Communications

p: (415) 250-4440

[email protected]