Sturdy Memorial Hospital Awarded by The American Heart Association for Commitment to Excellence in Stroke Care
Attleboro, MA (August 3, 2026) – Sturdy Memorial Hospital announced today that it has earned the Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus award from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. This is the highest level of the award and reflects the hospital’s longstanding commitment to providing an excellent standard of stroke care.
“At Sturdy Health, we are committed to providing the highest quality care to patients experiencing stroke by adhering to best practices,” said Dr. Brian Patel, Sturdy Health chief medical and quality officer. “The Gold Plus recognition is a reflection of our team’s dedication to helping our patients recover and achieve the best possible outcomes.”
This honor is for hospitals that consistently demonstrate 85% or higher compliance in rigorous stroke care measures for 24 or more consecutive months, while also meeting criteria like reducing the time before patients receive treatment and providing comprehensive follow-up care.
Sturdy Memorial Hospital also achieved the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll, a specific speed-based award recognizing how fast a hospital administers clot-busting treatments in emergencies, and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll, which recognizes hospitals for providing the most up-to-date, evidence-based care for patients with type 2 diabetes when they are hospitalized due to a stroke.
“We are proud to recognize Sturdy Memorial Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, 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.”
About Sturdy Health
Sturdy Health is an independent, nonprofit health system comprised of the 142-bed acute care Sturdy Memorial Hospital, 25 primary and specialty care medical offices, and an Urgent Care Center dedicated to providing a broad range of health care services to the residents of communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island. Sturdy’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people in our communities through kindness, compassion, and convenient access to the highest quality care.
In line with its mission to invest in the health and wellness of the community, Sturdy is currently implementing a multi-year master space plan. The system is renovating and adding facilities that will transform the patient and care team member experience and ensure greater access to care. Construction is underway on a $113 million modernization and expansion of the emergency department, which will increase capacity to 38,000 square feet, including 54 patient exam rooms, a dedicated 12-bed behavioral health unit, covered parking, and a new helipad. Learn more at www.sturdyhealth.org.
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