Cedars-Sinai's stroke team was presented with the American Heart Association's "Get with the Guidelines - Stroke Annual Performance Achievement Award" at a recent ceremony held at the medical center.

"Of the 126 hospitals participating in 'Get with the Guidelines' in California, Nevada and Utah, Cedars-Sinai is one of only five hospitals to receive an annual performance achievement award for stroke this year. It's a real achievement to receive this designation," said Julia Buss, R.N., vice president of Quality Improvement Initiatives for the American Heart Association, who presented the award.

More than 50 interdisciplinary Neurology Stroke team members contributed to the success of the medical center's program, including neurologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, neuroradiologists, physiatrists and rehabilitation medicine specialists. Care is coordinated from the first point of contact with the patient, whether through the Emergency Department, the Stroke Program's inpatient or outpatient services, or the rehabilitation center.

"It's an honor to work with this talented and dedicated team of professionals," said Michael F. Waters, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Stroke Program. "Everyone makes a significant contribution to the team's success."

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The first in Southern California and one of only 10 hospitals in the state whose nurses have been honored with the prestigious Magnet designation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For 19 consecutive years, it has been named Los Angeles' most preferred hospital for all health needs in an independent survey of area residents. Cedars-Sinai is internationally renowned for its diagnostic and treatment capabilities as well as breakthroughs in biomedical research and superlative medical education. It ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals in the nation for its research activities and is fully accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). Additional information is available at cedars-sinai.edu/.

Contact: Simi Singer
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center