The American Heart Association announced that 42 hospitals across Minnesota were recognized for their commitment to improving care for patients with heart disease and stroke through the Get With The Guidelines quality-improvement programs. The release notes that more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide participate in Get With The Guidelines to help ensure care aligns with current, research-based treatment recommendations.
The AHA published the recognition in a state release dated August 12, 2026, highlighting the role these hospitals play in advancing consistent, evidence-based practice across a range of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions.
Get With The Guidelines supports hospital teams by providing real-time data, clinical best practices and performance feedback. According to the AHA release, these tools are used to improve adherence to evidence-based care pathways for conditions including stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease.
The importance of rapid, guideline-concordant treatment is underscored by the AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report, cited in the release, which lists heart disease as the No. 1 and stroke as the No. 4 leading causes of death in the United States. The AHA statement quoted Krista Moffett, executive director for the American Heart Association — Minnesota, saying: “Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke or heart attack.” The release emphasizes that high-quality care should be accessible to all and that Get With The Guidelines award sites contribute to that goal.
The AHA listed the following Minnesota hospitals as recognized this year for their participation in Get With The Guidelines:
This list includes academic medical centers, regional referral hospitals and smaller community hospitals, reflecting the program’s reach across different care settings.
The AHA release states that participation in Get With The Guidelines has been associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality. The program has also been reported to reduce care disparities for several populations. Since its launch more than two decades ago, the release notes, millions of patient records have contributed to registries that support research and drive real-world improvements in cardiovascular care.
These registries and performance-feedback mechanisms form the operational backbone of Get With The Guidelines, enabling hospitals to benchmark performance, identify gaps and implement targeted quality-improvement interventions grounded in the latest evidence.
The release includes an organizational summary: the American Heart Association describes itself as a longstanding source of health information and a national force for reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke. The AHA states it is committed to equitable health in all communities, funds research, advocates for public health, and provides resources intended to save and improve lives.
The release references AHA public resources such as heart.org and stroke.org and directs readers to the Get With The Guidelines program page for details on participation and program materials.
For more information about Get With The Guidelines, the release directs readers to heart.org/getwiththeguidelines. Media contact listed in the release is Olivia LaVoy at olivia.lavoy@heart.org. Public inquiries may be directed to the AHA toll-free number 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721).
The AHA release also notes that additional resources and links — for example, U.S. News & World Report — may be added when available.