Stony Brook University Hospital has received national recognition from the American Heart Association for its commitment to high-quality care in stroke and cardiac treatment. The hospital was awarded the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus achievement award for the 15th consecutive year, covering 2010 through 2025. It also earned the Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for the seventh year in a row.
Dr. William Wertheim, Executive Vice President of Stony Brook Medicine, said, “This acknowledgment from the American Heart Association reflects the steadfast commitment of our medical teams to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Being recognized consistently over the years reinforces our ongoing pursuit of excellence in cardiovascular and stroke treatment, and we take pride in the meaningful difference our work makes in our patient’s health and recovery.”
Carol Gomes, Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital, added, “Achieving these prestigious awards year after year is a testament to the tireless dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff who put patients first every day. Each and every one of them plays an integral part in providing the kind of rapid and coordinated effort that has earned us these top honors.”
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Early detection and treatment are critical for survival rates and reducing long-term effects. Through programs like Get With The Guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA), hospitals align their patient care with up-to-date research-based guidelines.
Stony Brook University Hospital also achieved distinctions including Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy recognition, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for five consecutive years since 2021. These awards highlight efforts by its Cerebrovascular & Comprehensive Stroke Center to provide timely stroke interventions such as fast door-to-needle times for clot-busting drugs.
The hospital’s Mobile Stroke Unit Program serves more than 40 communities across Suffolk County by working with emergency medical service agencies to speed up diagnosis and early treatment before patients reach a hospital.
In heart failure care, more than 6.7 million adults nationwide are affected by this condition—a number projected to rise above eight million by 2030 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Proper management can allow many individuals with heart failure to maintain quality lives despite no available cure.
The Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center at Stony Brook continues its record with another Gold Plus quality achievement award while holding advanced certifications from The Joint Commission since 2011 as well as receiving Healthgrades’ Five-Star Distinction for heart failure treatment.
For cardiac arrest cases—which affect over 300,000 people annually within hospitals—timely response is essential for survival outcomes. Stony Brook University Hospital has developed a specialized Shock Team equipped with advanced mechanical support devices aimed at improving survival during critical emergencies.
Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current chair of its Quality Oversight Committee stated: “These awards show Stony Brook University Hospital’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care. By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Stony Brook University Hospital can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Stony Brook University Hospital is Long Island’s only tertiary care center serving as a Regional Trauma Center with several specialty institutes including heart disease, cancer treatment centers as well as children’s services.
More information about SBUH can be found at www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/sbuh.
