St. Petersburg, FL — HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital has earned the American Heart Association's 2026 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement Award, recognizing the hospital's commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based stroke care. The award is based on the hospital's performance from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025.
The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke program recognizes hospitals that consistently follow the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines to improve patient outcomes. The Gold Plus designation honors hospitals that demonstrate sustained achievement in delivering guideline-directed stroke care, while the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognizes efforts to improve outcomes for stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes.
"This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary stroke team to providing timely, evidence-based care for every patient who comes through our doors," said Dawn Elsea, vice president of quality of HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital. "We are proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our continued commitment to improving stroke care and patient outcomes."
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. Early recognition and rapid treatment are critical to reducing disability and improving recovery. HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital continues to focus on delivering timely stroke care and advancing quality improvement initiatives that align with national clinical guidelines.
The American Heart Association established the Get With The Guidelines® program to help hospitals improve patient care by promoting consistent use of the latest scientific evidence and treatment recommendations. Hospitals receiving the award have
demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the quality of care for stroke patients.