The American Heart Association has recognized more than 3,000 health care organizations nationwide for their commitment to improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and stroke. The recognitions, part of the association's Get With The Guidelines quality improvement programs, honor hospitals and emergency medical services that consistently apply the latest evidence-based science to treatment decisions.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. The recognition program aims to ensure that care is timely, consistent, and aligned with proven standards. Awards are given across clinical areas including stroke, heart failure, heart attack, cardiac arrest, Type 2 diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, with levels ranging from Bronze to Gold Plus based on performance and duration of achievement.
This year, 222 hospitals are receiving the Commitment to Quality award, up from 158 in its inaugural year. This award highlights organizations demonstrating high performance across at least three clinical areas. Karen Joynt-Maddox, M.D., MPH, volunteer chair of the Quality Oversight Committee and associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of coordinated care. "Improving outcomes for cardiovascular disease takes coordinated, high-quality care across the entire continuum," she said. "The organizations recognized this year are applying the latest science, strengthening systems of care, and working together to ensure more patients receive the right treatment at the right time, every time."
In addition to the Get With The Guidelines awards, 624 agencies received Mission: Lifeline EMS awards for offering rapid, research-based care to patients experiencing severe heart attacks and strokes. Forty-seven sites received Mission: Lifeline Regional recognition for working with hospital partners and EMS to establish systems of care based on the most up-to-date guidelines. The Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment from the moment 911 is called through hospital discharge.
New this year is the Target: Aortic Stenosis Honor Roll, part of an initiative to improve detection and treatment of aortic stenosis, a common and often underdiagnosed heart valve disease that affects more than 1.7 million Americans over age 65. Forty-one organizations received this recognition. Edwards Lifesciences is the national sponsor of the initiative.
Studies show that following guideline-directed care can help patients recover faster, reduce complications, and lower the risk of hospital readmission. The growing number of recognized organizations demonstrates continued momentum among health care teams to standardize care and reduce variation, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The full list of recipients is available at U.S. News & World Report. More information about the association's quality improvement efforts can be found at heart.org/quality.
