The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus award for demonstrating commitment to delivering evidence-based, life-saving stroke care
KEALAKEKUA, HAWAIʻI –– Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.
Silver Plus is earned by reaching 85% or higher adherence on all applicable stroke achievement measures for one calendar year, demonstrating that a hospital has built a highly successful stroke system. Gold Plus requires that same 85% or higher adherence sustained across two or more consecutive calendar years, plus 75% or higher adherence on additional select quality measures. The Gold Plus award marks a step up from the Stroke Silver Plus recognition KCH received last year.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.
“Receiving the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus award is a proud reflection of the consistency and quality of care our team delivers every single day,” said Clayton McGhan, CEO of West Hawaii Region. “Our team has worked hard to build this level of reliability into our stroke program, and we’re committed to maintaining and building upon that standard for our community.”
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.
“We are proud to recognize Kona Community Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., 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, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”
KCH also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes 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.
ABOUT WEST HAWAII REGION
The West Hawaii Region comprises Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital. The region is dedicated to providing a healing environment to all the people of Hawaiʻi and delivering quality, accessible care that leads to optimal health. Both hospitals offer 24-hour emergency services and are members of the Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation, a public entity established in 1996 by the State of Hawaiʻi to fulfill the promise of providing quality, hometown healthcare.
ABOUT GET WITH THE GUIDELINES®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
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The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus award for demonstrating commitment to delivering evidence-based, life-saving stroke careKEALAKEKUA, HAWAIʻI –– Kona Community Hospital (KCH) has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.Silver Plus is earned by reaching 85% or higher adherence on all applicable stroke achievement measures for one calendar year, demonstrating that a hospital has built a highly successful stroke system. Gold Plus requires that same 85% or higher adherence sustained across two or more consecutive calendar years, plus 75% or higher adherence on additional select quality measures. The Gold Plus award marks a step up from the Stroke Silver Plus recognition KCH received last year.Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.“Receiving the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus award is a proud reflection of the consistency and quality of care our team delivers every single day,” said Clayton McGhan, CEO of West Hawaii Region. “Our team has worked hard to build this level of reliability into our stroke program, and we’re committed to maintaining and building upon that standard for our community.”Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.“We are proud to recognize Kona Community Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., 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, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”KCH also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes 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.