Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for the second consecutive year.

The Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Achievement Award is the highest of its kind and recognizes a hospital’s commitment to and success ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized guidelines based on the latest scientific research and evidence.

"NGMC continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients," said Dr. MaryAnn Fares, medical director of Stroke Care at NGMC. "The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association further reinforces our team’s dedication and commitment to our patients and their health."

NGMC Gainesville received the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines - all with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

NGMC Gainesville additionally received the association's Target: Stroke Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.