ROCKPORT — Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) has earned a place in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association roster of hospitals recognized for achievement in the Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke healthcare quality program. The list of award-winning hospitals appears in a 2018 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" issue congratulatory ad. Pen Bay Medical Center is a Gold Plus award winner in stroke care.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, believes everyone who has heart disease or a stroke should receive treatment at a hospital with the resources to correctly and consistently make time-critical decisions. This recognition demonstrates Pen Bay Medical Center’s commitment to following the guidelines and improving patient outcomes.

Get With The Guidelines–Stroke was developed by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to help healthcare professionals align stroke care with the most up-to-date scientific treatment guidelines. Stroke treatment guidelines include aggressive therapies and medications that can help improve patient care and outcomes. Hospitals must follow these measures at a set level for a designated period of time to be eligible for achievement awards.

PBMC was also included on the Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll for ensuring that at least 50 percent of eligible stroke patients get treatment to restore blood flow to the brain within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital — timing considered critical to limiting stroke damage.

"We know how valuable guideline-driven care is to our stroke patients," said Mark Fourre, MD, President & CEO. "Everyone at our hospital is proud to be recognized for our efforts and appreciative of the support and tools provided through Get With The Guidelines."

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines offers a suite of hospital-based quality programs addressing a spectrum of cardiovascular conditions and stroke. Numerous published scientific studies demonstrate that adherence to Get With The Guidelines quality measures can lead to better patient outcomes, including increased survival.