Twelve Hackensack Meridian Health Hospitals Nationally Recognized For Stroke Care By American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines ® Stroke Awards

Hackensack Meridian Health has received twelve American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke achievement awards for its proven commitment to following up-to-date, research-based stroke care guidelines that help improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and shorten recovery times.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.A. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and speeding up recovery.

“We are proud to see so many of our hospitals recognized for their exceptional stroke care,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “These awards are a testament to the unwavering commitment of our physicians, nurses, and team members who go above and beyond to deliver timely, evidence-based treatment when every second counts. From rapid emergency response to advanced surgical interventions and comprehensive rehabilitation, we are dedicated to the full spectrum of stroke care. These recognitions reaffirm our mission to transform health care and create healthier communities across New Jersey, one patient at a time.”

The Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke program helps hospitals align care with the most recent research-based recommendations to ensure patients consistently receive high-quality treatment. Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals met rigorous criteria to earn national accolades across the network.

The following Hackensack Meridian Health medical centers received 2025 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke awards:

• Bayshore Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Hackensack University Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• JFK University Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Mountainside Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Ocean University Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Pascack Valley Medical Center – Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Raritan Bay Medical Center – Old Bridge – Stroke Bronze
• Raritan Bay Medical Center – Perth Amboy – Stroke Silver Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Riverview Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Palisades Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Southern Ocean Medical Center – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll

To receive the Gold Plus designation, hospitals must achieve at least 85% adherence to key stroke performance indicators for two consecutive years and demonstrate 75% or higher compliance with additional quality measures. Honor Roll Elite status is awarded to hospitals that meet time-to-treatment goals, including rapid administration of clot-busting medications.

American Heart Association’s 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.

“These awards show Hackensack Meridian Health’s unwavering commitment to improving stroke care in New Jersey,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “Following our quality improvement protocols leads to better patient outcomes, fewer hospital readmissions, and ultimately, stronger communities.”

Hackensack Meridian Health has three Comprehensive Stroke Centers and nine Primary Stroke Centers certified by the Joint Commission and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The three comprehensive stroke centers—Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and JFK University Medical Center—hold the most advanced stroke care designations and are equipped to treat the most complex cases. Hackensack University Medical Center is also home to New Jersey’s only nationally ranked neurology and neurosurgery program, according to U.S. News & World Report.