Kettering Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. Sycamore Medical Center has received the organization’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award.

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

To receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

To receive the Silver Plus Quality Achievement award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for at least 12 consecutive months and during the same period achieve 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

“The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has recognized our commitment to providing outstanding stroke care to our patients and the community,” says Timothy Schoonover, D.O., medical director of Kettering Health Network’s stroke program. “This achievement demonstrates the continued commitment of Kettering Health Network to serve the community at the highest level.”

Kettering Medical Center is also the first hospital in the nation to be designated as a Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) Comprehensive Stroke Center. Sycamore Medical Center is designated as a Primary Stroke Center. Comprehensive Stroke Center certification recognizes hospitals that meet standards to treat the most complex stroke cases. Primary Stroke Center certification recognizes hospitals that meet standards to support better outcomes for stroke care.