Staff Reports | Community Updates
When a stroke occurs, rapid diagnosis and treatment can affect patient outcomes. Three Abrazo Health hospitals have received national recognition for their stroke care programs.
Abrazo West Campus, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus and Abrazo Scottsdale Campus earned the American Heart Association’s 2026 Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Award for their delivery of evidence-based stroke treatment and patient outcomes, according to a press release.
“Our stroke program is built around one goal—delivering the right treatment as quickly as possible,” Sushant P. Kale, MD, medical director for stroke and interventional neurology at Abrazo Health, said. “From emergency physicians and nurses to neurologists, neurointerventional specialists, imaging teams and rehabilitation professionals, every member of our team plays an important role in helping patients achieve the best possible recovery.”
The Get With The Guidelines® program combines expertise from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to promote adherence to stroke care guidelines designed to improve outcomes and reduce stroke-related deaths and disability.
Abrazo West Campus also received the Get With The Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll achievement awards. Abrazo Scottsdale Campus and Abrazo Arrowhead Campus received the Get With The Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll achievement awards.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When that happens, brain cells begin to die.
The three campuses provide stroke care using advanced imaging technology, rapid emergency evaluation and evidence-based treatment protocols. Treatments include clot-busting medications and minimally invasive procedures designed to restore blood flow to the brain.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, therapists and clinical support teams who work together every day to provide exceptional care. We are proud to offer this service to our communities, and it makes a difference in people’s lives every day,” Brian Elisco, AZ group CEO of Abrazo Health, said.
