Five Lehigh Valley Health Network hospitals have received achievement awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

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 evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in Get With The Guidelines programs, LVHN hospitals qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

“LVHN is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for stroke,” Steven Lewis, MD, Endowed Chair, Neurology, said. “Get With The Guidelines allows our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in eastern Pennsylvania experience longer, healthier lives.”

This year, the following LVHN hospitals received these achievement awards:

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest: Stroke Gold Plus with Target; Stroke Honor Roll Elite; Advanced Therapy and Target; Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill: Stroke Gold Plus with Target; Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target; Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton: Stroke Gold Plus with Target; Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target; Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono: Stroke Gold Plus with Target; Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll

• Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg: Stroke Silver Plus with Target; Stroke Honor Roll and Target; Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll

“We are pleased to recognize Lehigh Valley Health Network for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, MD, FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas.

“Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates - a win for health care systems, families and communities.”