Mary Washington Healthcare earns national recognition for high-quality stroke care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus award for demonstrating commitment to delivering evidence-based, life-saving stroke care

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (July 27, 2026) – Mary Washington Healthcare has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award in recognition of its commitment to delivering timely, evidence-based stroke care that improves patient outcomes, reduces disability, and saves lives.

In addition, Mary Washington Healthcare earned the association’s Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll recognitions. These awards recognize hospitals that achieve rapid treatment times for eligible stroke patients and implement high standards of care for patients with Type 2 diabetes, a major risk factor for stroke.

Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.

Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.

“This recognition reflects Mary Washington Healthcare’s commitment to delivering the highest quality stroke care by adhering to the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines,” said Omar Saeed, MD, Stroke Medical Director, Mary Washington Neurology. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas live longer, healthier lives.”

"Every minute matters when someone is experiencing a stroke. This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, emergency medical services partners, and care teams who work together to ensure patients receive rapid, evidence-based treatment. Our goal is to give every stroke patient the best possible opportunity for recovery and a return to their daily lives," said Susan Halpin, Program Manager of Stroke Services, Mary Washington Healthcare.

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.

“We are proud to recognize Mary Washington Healthcare for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”

Mary Washington Hospital also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients admitted through the emergency department with stroke symptoms.

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About Mary Washington Healthcare

Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional healthcare system that provides inpatient and outpatient care at more than 80 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 397-bed tertiary hospital; Stafford Hospital, a 174-bed community hospital; four emergency departments, and a multi-specialty graduate medical education program. Mary Washington Healthcare is a non-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to providing care regardless of patients’ ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.

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.