FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 22, 2021
Saratoga Hospital Recognized for Stroke Care
Receives the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Silver Plus Award
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Nov. 22, 2021— Saratoga Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award.
The national recognition acknowledges Saratoga Hospital’s commitment to providing patients with the most appropriate stroke treatment, in keeping with the latest research-based guidelines. 
“Our goal is to give our patients the best chance for survival and quality of life after a stroke,” said Dr. Robert Donnarumma, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Saratoga Hospital and medical director of its stroke program. “Get With The Guidelines provides tools and resources—including achievement measures—that help us follow evidence-based guidelines and improve patient outcomes.”
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. On average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, and nearly 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times.
Saratoga Hospital has made significant investments in recent years to enhance stroke care. In 2020, the hospital launched a teleneurology program—including telestroke care—to give patients 24/7 emergency access to neurologists who have extensive experience treating strokes.
In August, Saratoga Hospital received a $100,000 grant from Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York Blue Fund to advance the hospital’s stroke program. The grant will help cover education, equipment and other costs involved in attaining New York State Department of Health designation and Joint Commission-American Heart Association certification as a Primary Stroke Center.
***
About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. The hospital’s multispecialty practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, provides care at more than 20 locations, ensuring easy access to programs and services that can have the greatest impact on individual and community health. Saratoga Hospital has maintained Magnet designation for nursing excellence since 2004. The hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Medical Center Hospital, Columbia Memorial Health and Glens Falls Hospital. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians and 125 outpatient locations. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.
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 tools and resources to increase adherence to 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 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org/quality.
###
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter M. Hopper
Director, Marketing and Communications
518-583-8679
phopper@saratogahospital.org