Grady Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High-quality Stroke Care

Grady Health System, home to the world-renowned Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center, has earned the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care based on the latest scientific research and evidence-based guidelines.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the U.S. Timely treatment is critical because early detection and intervention can save lives, reduce long-term disability, and improve recovery.

The Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program is used by hospitals nationwide to improve stroke care by standardizing treatment according to the most current scientific guidelines. Hospitals that participate in the program demonstrate higher quality care and better patient outcomes.

“Grady’s recognition by the American Heart Association reflects our dedication to high-quality stroke care,” said Michael Frankel, MD, Chief of Neurology and Director of the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center at Grady Memorial Hospital. “Our team delivers life-saving care grounded in the latest science, ensuring patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Our commitment is not only to individual recovery, but to transforming stroke care for all.”

To qualify for the Gold Plus award, Grady met rigorous performance measures for treating stroke patients quickly and effectively, providing critical patient education and prevention measures to decrease the chance of a second stroke. Grady’s Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center has one of the largest thrombectomy programs in the country, performing more than 300 such procedures a year while leading major clinical trials that have transformed the field.

In addition to the Gold Plus award, Grady received several other distinctions from the American Heart Association:

• Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus, for reducing the time between hospital arrival and clot-busting treatment.
• Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy, for rapid treatment to physically remove clots in eligible patients.
• Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll, for delivering specialized stroke care to patients with Type 2 diabetes, who face higher risk of complications.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Grady for its commitment to caring for patients with 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, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

To learn more about Grady’s role in transforming the care of patients with stroke, click here.