HCA Florida Blake Hospital has again received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for ensuring stroke patients receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.
Blake Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Advanced Therapy award for meeting criteria designed to reduce the time from a patient’s arrival to treating a stroke-causing clot. In addition, the hospital earned the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for providing the latest evidence-based care to stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes, who may face a higher risk of complications.
“This recognition reflects the expertise of our stroke team and the highly coordinated care they provide at every stage of a patient’s treatment,” said Dr. Keith DeSousa, chair of neuroscience at HCA Florida Blake Hospital. “By consistently applying best practices, we are able to respond quickly, support better recoveries and help our patients return to the people and activities that matter most to them.”
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into 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 designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.
“We are proud to recognize HCA Florida Blake Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., 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.”