Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke GOLD PLUS Elite quality achievement award for its adherence to evidence-based stroke care guidelines.

Robert Roose, MD, MPH, President of Saint Francis Hospital, said, "Saint Francis Hospital is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines for heart failure and strokes. Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people live longer, healthier lives."

Get With The Guidelines brings American Heart Association and American Stroke Association expertise into hospitals nationwide, aligning care with evidence-based guidelines to minimize long-term effects and help prevent death. Hospitals also provide patients with education to manage recovery at home.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, while stroke has climbed to No. 4, replacing COVID-19, which fell to No. 10. Stroke caused 162,639 U.S. deaths in 2023, down from 165,393 in 2022. Together, heart disease and stroke accounted for more than a quarter of all U.S. deaths in 2023, more than cancer and accidental deaths combined. Deaths from both conditions have declined following a five-year, pandemic-linked increase, though they remain the nation's leading killers.

Saint Francis also received the American Heart Association's Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award, recognizing hospitals that ensure diabetes patients receive evidence-based care when hospitalized for stroke.

"We are proud to recognize Saint Francis Hospital for their commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke," said Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. "Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities."

For Saint Francis, the recognition reflects a continued focus on evidence-based stroke and heart care for patients across the Hartford region, aimed at reducing death, disability, and hospital readmissions.