COVINGTON, Ga. -- Piedmont Newton Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This award recognizes the hospital for its commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

“Piedmont Newton is dedicated to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for strokes,” said Erica Walker, stroke and cardiovascular program manager for Piedmont Newton. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Covington and surrounding areas can live longer, healthier lives.”

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 accelerating recovery.

“Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We are pleased to honor Piedmont Newton for the high-quality care they provide members of their community who experience stroke.”

Piedmont Newton also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award. This award indicates that people with Type 2 diabetes, who are hospitalized at Newton due to stroke and may be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care.

Overall, Piedmont earned 13 Get With The Guidelines awards.