The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke: Gold Plus award for demonstrating commitment to delivering evidence-based, life-saving stroke care
June 25, 2026 – HCA Florida Palms West Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke: Gold Plus quality achievement award for 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.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 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 Association and American Stroke Association 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.
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is a certified Primary Stroke Center, providing rapid diagnosis and treatment through a coordinated team approach designed to improve outcomes.
“At HCA Florida Palms West Hospital, we know that when someone experiences a stroke, every second matters. This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams who work together to deliver timely, high-quality care when patients need it most,” said Cory Mead, chief executive officer. “By combining advanced stroke protocols with compassionate, patient-centered care, we are helping improve outcomes and ensuring families throughout western Palm Beach County have access to the care they deserve close to home.”
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.
“We are proud to recognize HCA Florida Palms West Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing 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, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”
In addition to earning the Gold Plus award, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital received the Target: Stroke Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll distinctions, recognizing the hospital’s success in delivering rapid, evidence-based stroke treatment and specialized care for patients with diabetes. These recognitions reflect HCA Florida Palms West Hospital’s ongoing commitment to advancing clinical excellence and expanding access to specialized care for the growing communities of western Palm Beach County.
About HCA Florida Palms West Hospital
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is a 206-bed full-service, acute care hospital specializing in emergency, pediatric, intensive care, orthopedic and spine care, maternity and level III neonatal care services, and minimally-invasive and robotic surgery. With more than 1,200 colleagues and 945 medical staff, we care for more than 14,000 admitted patients and more than 62,000 emergency room patients annually. HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is home to the only dedicated Women’s and Children’s Center in the western Palm Beach County community.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is one of Florida’s leading healthcare networks. Its 11,200 physicians and 80,000 colleagues work together to deliver evidence-based, collaborative care through nearly 12.8 million patient encounters annually. With more than 670 connected care sites—including hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency rooms—across the state, HCA Florida Healthcare helps expand access to the specialized care patients need. HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals are annually recognized for excellence in patient experience and clinical outcomes, including three facilities ranked in the top 2% nationally for overall clinical excellence. A leader in healthcare education, HCA Florida Healthcare supports the next generation of healthcare workers through its 153 graduate medical education programs across 29 hospitals. In 2025, the network provided more than $1.1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.5 million to community organizations across the state. Visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
