Holyoke Medical Center Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Stroke Care

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) has once again received the American Heart Assoc. Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award. The hospital has received this award based on 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. HMC has been recognized annually with Get with the Guidelines – Stroke awards since 2007.

HMC also received the American Heart Assoc. Target: Stroke Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

Additionally, HMC received the American Heart Assoc. 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.

As a primary stroke center, HMC meets specific scientific guidelines, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. HMC also educates patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Assoc. 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 Assoc. and American Stroke Assoc. 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.