Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen have once again been highlighted nationally for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate, high-quality treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Both hospitals have been listed in US News & World Report’s “Quality Near Me” section in conjunction with the American Heart Association regarding the nationally recognized stroke care offered at both facilities.
Both Valley Baptist-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen earned numerous awards from the American Heart Association in 2024. Both were recognized with the American Heart Association’s “Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines – Stroke” quality achievement award, in addition to the “Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus” award and “Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll” recognition. Valley Baptist-Harlingen also earned the “Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy” award. Both Valley Baptist hospitals have earned “Gold Plus” recognition for 10 or more consecutive calendar years for providing high-quality stroke care to patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
According to the American Heart Association, Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for 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 for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
The awards highlight Valley Baptist Health System’s robust and comprehensive approach to stroke care as the region’s most experienced stroke team.
“Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen has been at the forefront of stroke research and has participated in the trials that shaped the latest guidelines,” said Dr. Ameer Hassan, DO, FAHA, FSVIN, head of the neuroscience department, director of endovascular surgical neuroradiology and director of clinical neuroscience research at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients experience better clinical outcomes. The end goal is to ensure more people throughout the Rio Grande Valley can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
Dr. Luis Gaitan, Medical Director of the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville, said the recognition demonstrates the level of expertise the stroke team offers at Valley Baptist.
“Valley Baptist-Brownsville continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients,” he said. “The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”
In addition to the recognition from the American Heart Association, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, while Valley Baptist-Harlingen is certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by DNV Healthcare and was the first hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to receive the designation. Such designations are important in stroke care, as for the best chance for successful treatment, patients should be transported to the nearest Primary Stroke Center as quickly as possible, Hassan said.
For more information, visit usnewsbrandfuse.com/AmericanHeartAssociation/.
