MemorialCare's Long Beach and Saddleback Medical Centers Earn American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Awards

National recognitions highlight excellence in evidence-based stroke and cardiovascular care, improving outcomes and supporting recovery for patients across Southern California.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MemorialCare's Long Beach Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for their commitment to delivering stroke treatment aligned with nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, helping save lives and reduce disability. In addition, Long Beach Medical Center was honored with the Get With The Guidelines^® - Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for heart failure patients, resulting in fewer readmissions and more healthy days at home.

"MemorialCare is committed to delivering the highest quality care based on the latest clinical evidence and best practices," said Eugene Kim, M.D., chief medical officer, MemorialCare. "These recognitions from the American Heart Association affirm that our patients and communities can count on nationally recognized stroke care available close to home. At Long Beach Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center, patients have access to advanced, evidence-based treatment and the expertise needed to achieve the best possible outcomes when every moment matters."

In addition, Long Beach Medical Center received the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy, Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, and Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll Optimal. Saddleback Medical Center received the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. Together, these designations reflect both hospitals' commitment to delivering care aligned with the latest evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of heart failure and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Stroke remains a leading cause of serious long-term disability and one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and helping patients recover more quickly. The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® program is a hospital-based quality improvement initiative that helps ensure patients receive care aligned with the latest evidence-based clinical guidelines. Hospitals that earn these recognitions demonstrate a sustained commitment to quality improvement, patient safety and improved clinical outcomes across stroke and heart failure care.

"We are proud to recognize MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center for their 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."

Both Long Beach Medical Center and Saddleback Medical Center also meet the rigorous standards required to be designated as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

Each year, program participants qualify for these awards by demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

About MemorialCare

MemorialCare is a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system with over 200 care locations, including leading hospitals: Saddleback Medical Center, Orange Coast Medical Center, Long Beach Medical Center, and a full-service children's & women's hospital—Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. MemorialCare's clinical networks include the MemorialCare Orthopedic & Spine Institute, MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute, MemorialCare Cancer Institute, MemorialCare Neuroscience Institute and MemorialCare Research Program. MemorialCare operates Select Health Plan and provides primary, urgent, and outpatient care through MemorialCare Medical Group and MemorialCare Independent Physicians (IPA). It also offers the subscription-free "Get Care Now" virtual care suite. National accolades include Healthgrades America's Top 250 Hospital, regional recognition in U.S. News & World Report with "high performing" in 46 clinical categories and received a 4.5-star rating in the AMP Medicare Advantage program. Visit memorialcare.org.

SOURCE MemorialCare