PIH Health Hospitals Earn American Heart Association’s 2026 Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus Awards
Whittier, Calif. (August 12, 2026) – PIH Health Downey Hospital and PIH Health Whittier Hospital have earned the American Heart Association’s 2026 Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award, recognizing their commitment to providing high-quality, evidence-based stroke care.
The Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus award honors hospitals that consistently adhere to the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines, helping ensure stroke patients receive timely, high-quality care that improves outcomes.
In addition to earning the Gold Plus designation:
- PIH Health Downey Hospital received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll recognition.
- PIH Health Whittier Hospital received both the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll recognitions.
“These awards reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses, therapists, emergency department staff, EMS partners, and multidisciplinary care teams who work together every day to provide exceptional stroke care,” said Adrian Burgos MD, medical director of the PIH Health Stroke Program. “We are honored to receive this national recognition and remain committed to continuously improving outcomes for the communities we serve.”
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. When a stroke occurs, every minute counts. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimizing brain injury and improving recovery.
The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program helps hospitals improve patient outcomes by promoting adherence to the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines. Hospitals recognized with the Gold Plus award have demonstrated sustained achievement in delivering high-quality stroke care and meeting rigorous performance measures.
“Our goal is to provide every stroke patient with timely, coordinated care based on the latest clinical evidence,” said Dr. Burgos. “This recognition reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care when every second matters.”
For more information about PIH Health’s comprehensive stroke services, visit PIHHealth.org/Stroke
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About PIH Health
PIH Health is a nonprofit, regional healthcare network that serves approximately 3 million residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The fully integrated network is comprised of PIH Health Downey Hospital, PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital, PIH Health Whittier Hospital, 31 outpatient medical office buildings, a multispecialty medical (physician) group, home healthcare services and hospice care, as well as heart, cancer, digestive health, orthopedics, women’s health, urgent care, and emergency services. The organization is nationally recognized for excellence in patient care and patient experience, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has identified PIH Health as one of the nation’s top hospital systems for best practices, cutting-edge advancements, quality of care and healthcare technology. For more information, visit PIHHealth.org or follow us on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
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 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 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org
