The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized more than 3,000 health care organizations nationwide for their commitment to improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease and stroke. These recognitions, announced on August 5, 2026, are part of the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines quality improvement programs, which help health care teams apply the latest evidence-based science to treatment decisions.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. The AHA emphasizes that improving survival depends on timely, coordinated, and evidence-based care. Get With The Guidelines awards span clinical areas including stroke, heart failure, heart attack, cardiac arrest, Type 2 diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, with recognition levels ranging from Bronze to Gold Plus based on performance and duration of achievement.
This year, 222 hospitals are receiving the Commitment to Quality award, up from 158 in its inaugural year. This award highlights organizations demonstrating high performance across at least three clinical areas. “Improving outcomes for cardiovascular disease takes coordinated, high-quality care across the entire continuum,” said Karen Joynt-Maddox, M.D., MPH, volunteer chair of the AHA’s Quality Oversight Committee and associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine. “The organizations recognized this year are applying the latest science, strengthening systems of care, and working together to ensure more patients receive the right treatment at the right time, every time.”
In addition to the Get With The Guidelines awards, the AHA recognized 624 agencies with Mission: Lifeline EMS awards for providing rapid, research-based care to people experiencing the most severe forms of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, 47 sites received Mission: Lifeline Regional recognition for their commitment to working with referring and receiving hospital partners, as well as EMS, to establish systems of care based on the most up-to-date research-based guidelines. The Mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment, from the 911 call through hospital discharge.
New for this year is the Target: Aortic Stenosis Honor Roll, an initiative to improve detection and treatment of a common and often underdiagnosed heart valve disease. Aortic stenosis affects more than 1.7 million Americans over age 65 and, without appropriate treatment, can significantly impact survival and quality of life. Forty-one organizations received this recognition. Edwards Lifesciences is the national sponsor of the initiative.
Studies show that following guideline-directed care can help patients recover faster, reduce complications, and lower the risk of hospital readmission. The growing number of recognized organizations demonstrates continued momentum among health care teams nationwide to standardize care, reduce variation, and improve patient outcomes.
The full list of recipients is available at U.S. News & World Report. More information about the AHA’s quality improvement efforts can be found at heart.org/quality.
