Saint Joseph Hospital is Nationally Recognized for Commitment to High-Quality Stroke Care
The American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® – Gold Plus award highlights excellence
in stroke care
ELGIN, IL (August 19, 2025) — Saint Joseph Hospital, a member of Prime Healthcare, has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. This recognition reflects the hospital’s dedication to improving survival rates, recovery times, and quality of life for stroke patients.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. Without oxygen, brain cells die, making early detection and treatment critical to improving outcomes and reducing long-term disability.
Get With The Guidelines® brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to hospitals nationwide, promoting adherence to the latest evidence-based practices. Consistent use of these guidelines has been shown to improve patient outcomes, minimize long-term effects, and prevent death.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Saint Joseph Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with 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, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating their commitment 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.
“Being recognized with the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke award reflects our dedication to excellence in stroke treatment,” said Eva Balderrama, CEO of Saint Joseph Hospital. “Through Prime Healthcare’s support in Elgin and across the nation, we are strengthening access to proven clinical programs and critical resources that help patients achieve better outcomes. This honor underscores our commitment to delivering the life-saving stroke care that our patients and community can trust.”
Saint Joseph Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award, which recognizes hospitals that ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes — who face higher risks of stroke complications — receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care.
In addition to these honors, Saint Joseph Hospital was recently recognized as a High Performing hospital by U.S. News & World Report and received “A” grades from the Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility for excellence in equity, value, and patient outcomes.
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Founded in 1901, Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin, Illinois, is a 184-bed facility providing 24/7 specialized and emergency care to the Fox River Valley community. The hospital offers advanced services in orthopedics, spine, neuro, cardiac, and stroke care, and is recognized as a Blue Distinction Center of Excellence® for Total Knee and Hip Replacement and Spine. Its behavioral health program earned Optum’s Platinum Award® for excellence, while patients also benefit from a full range of minimally invasive procedures, imaging, and lab services conveniently available on one campus.