HCA Florida Blake Hospital is nationally recognized for providing high-quality stroke care

HCA Florida Blake Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association, signifying our commitment to providing our patients the highest standard of care,” said Steve Young, CEO at HCA Florida Blake Hospital. “We take pride in providing excellent and comprehensive stroke care for our community.”

According to the American Heart Association, Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Dr. Keith DeSousa, director of neuroscience at HCA Florida Blake Hospital, added, “This recognition underscores the dedication and expertise of our entire stroke care team. We continually strive to implement the latest treatment protocols and innovative practices to ensure our patients receive the best possible care. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for our stroke patients and help them achieve the best possible outcomes.”

HCA Florida Blake Hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, the hospital met specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.

Additionally, the hospital earned the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Blake earned this award by ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize HCA Florida Blake Hospital for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”