Conemaugh Memorial and Conemaugh Meyersdale Recognized by American Heart Association for Excellence in Stroke Care

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and Conemaugh Meyersdale Medical Center have been nationally recognized by the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program for their commitment to delivering high-quality stroke care.

Conemaugh Memorial earned the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, recognizing its consistent implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols that improve patient outcomes, reduce disability, and save lives.

Conemaugh Meyersdale received the Silver Quality Achievement Award, an advancement from the Bronze designation earned in 2024, demonstrating continuous improvement in stroke care practices.

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.

The Get With The Guidelines® puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for 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 by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“Conemaugh Health System is deeply committed to delivering exceptional patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Rodney Reider, CEO and Market President of Conemaugh Health System. “Get With The Guidelines® makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in our communities can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing 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.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Conemaugh Memorial and Conemaugh Meyersdale for their commitment to caring for patients with 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, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Additionally, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke^SM Elite Plus award for meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

They also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure 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.