Stony Brook University Hospital has been recognized by the American Heart Association for its consistent delivery of high-quality care in cardiovascular and stroke treatment. The hospital received the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus achievement award for the 15th consecutive year, covering 2010 to 2025. Additionally, it earned the Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for the seventh straight year.
“These awards show Stony Brook University Hospital’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Stony Brook University Hospital can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
William Wertheim, MD, executive vice president of Stony Brook Medicine, stated: “This acknowledgment from the American Heart Association reflects the steadfast commitment of our medical teams to deliver outstanding care to our patients. Being recognized consistently over the years reinforces our ongoing pursuit of excellence in cardiovascular and stroke treatment, and we take pride in the meaningful difference our work makes in our patients’ health and recovery.”
Carol Gomes, chief executive officer of Stony Brook University Hospital, added: “Achieving these prestigious awards year after year is a testament to the tireless dedication of our physicians, nurses, and staff who put patients first every day. Each and every one of them plays an integral part in providing the kind of rapid and coordinated effort that has earned us these top honors.”
The hospital also received several other distinctions this year: Target: Stroke℠ Elite Honor Roll Elite Plus (Advanced Therapy) and Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Honor Roll for five consecutive years (2021–2025). These accolades recognize efforts at Stony Brook’s Cerebrovascular & Comprehensive Stroke Center to provide evidence-based care for stroke patients.
Stony Brook University Hospital reported faster than average treatment times for stroke patients through quick door-to-needle responses and advanced therapies targeting large vessel occlusion strokes. Patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized with heart failure or heart attack receive specialized management focused on preventing disease progression using education programs, lifestyle changes, quality improvement initiatives, and medication.
Suffolk County residents benefit from early intervention through Stony Brook’s Mobile Stroke Unit Program. This initiative works with more than 40 emergency medical service agencies across over 40 communities to speed up diagnosis and enable timely administration of therapies before hospital arrival.
The Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center at Stony Brook has maintained its recognition from both national organizations such as The Joint Commission—receiving Advanced Certification Award in Heart Failure since 2011—and Healthgrades Five-Star Distinction for Treatment of Heart Failure.
For cardiac arrest cases occurring within hospitals—affecting more than 300,000 adults and children annually—timely response is critical. SBUH follows guidelines established by Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation program to improve survival rates through protocol-driven emergency team responses and post-resuscitation care. A dedicated Shock Team at SBUH utilizes advanced mechanical support devices during cardiac emergencies as part of this effort.
According to projections by national organizations such as the CDC, more than 6.7 million adults currently live with heart failure in the United States—a figure expected to surpass eight million by 2030.
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