Tampa General Hospital Is Nationally Recognized for Its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

The American Heart Association has awarded Tampa General Hospital the Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and lifesaving care.

Tampa, FL (Oct. 12, 2023) – Tampa General Hospital (TGH) received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for its consistency in implementing proven care protocols and research to provide advanced stroke care to patients.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. According to the American Heart Association, numerous published studies demonstrate the program’s success in achieving measurable improvements in patient outcomes.

“Tampa General Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to and even exceeding the latest treatment guidelines,” said Dr. Scott Burgin, medical director, TGH Comprehensive Stroke Center and professor and director of the Division of Vascular Neurology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Get With The Guidelines provides a road map for our teams as they work to provide world-class stroke care to our patients on a daily basis. This recognition is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our physicians and clinicians,” Burgin said.

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organizations have committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Tampa General Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “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.”

TGH also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. This award aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Tampa General’s stroke care is part of the academic health system’s Neurosciences Institute, which was ranked as high performing or in the top 10% of in the country by U.S. News and World Report’s 2023-24 Best Hospitals. For more information on stroke care at Tampa General, visit https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/conditions/stroke.