On August 11, 2026, four hospitals in Kern County were recognized by the American Heart Association for their commitment to advancing quality care for patients with heart disease and stroke through the Get With The Guidelines quality-improvement program. The announcement, issued from Bakersfield, highlights local institutions participating in a national effort to standardize and improve cardiovascular and stroke care.
Get With The Guidelines is an American Heart Association quality-improvement initiative that supports hospitals in delivering care consistent with the latest research-based guidelines. According to the AHA, more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide participate in these programs, using standardized tools and feedback to drive clinical practice improvements and to align care with established guideline recommendations.
The AHA cites its 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report to emphasize the public-health importance of these conditions: heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and stroke ranks fourth. Swift, evidence-based treatment is critical to improving outcomes for patients with acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and systematic quality efforts aim to close gaps between guideline recommendations and bedside care.
The hospitals in Kern County recognized in this announcement were:
These institutions were honored for their participation in the Get With The Guidelines program and for demonstrating a local commitment to high-quality, evidence-based cardiovascular and stroke care.
Participant hospitals use several program components to improve care delivery. The AHA describes use of real-time data, clinical best practices and performance feedback as central elements. These inputs help hospitals track adherence to recommended therapies, identify gaps in care processes and implement corrective actions. The program covers multiple conditions, including stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease, with tools tailored to each clinical area.
The American Heart Association reports that participation in Get With The Guidelines has been associated with measurable improvements: better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality. The program also has been shown to reduce disparities in care across several populations. The announcement highlights that, since the program’s launch more than two decades ago, millions of patient records have been entered into registries that support continuous quality improvement and evaluation of real-world practice.
A local quote in the announcement underscores the human and community element behind the recognition. David Harrington, American Heart Association – Kern County board chair, said, “Behind every recognition is a team dedicated to improving outcomes for patients and families in Kern County.” He added that hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines demonstrate a commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care and to building healthier communities across the region.
The registries created through Get With The Guidelines collect de-identified patient-level data that contribute to research and program evaluation. The AHA notes that millions of records have been entered since the registry began, enabling analysis that informs guideline development, identifies best practices and supports dissemination of effective interventions in clinical care.
The announcement directs readers and clinicians to heart.org/getwiththeguidelines for program details and to AHA resources such as Quality Near Me. It also references the AHA’s broader mission: funding research, advocating for public health, providing resources to improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke, and promoting equitable health in communities.
For local and national inquiries, the AHA provided contacts and general information in the announcement. The source article also lists related multimedia and downloadable imagery associated with the Get With The Guidelines program and the American Heart Association brand.
In summary, the American Heart Association recognized four Kern County hospitals for their participation in the Get With The Guidelines program, a national quality- improvement initiative used by thousands of hospitals to promote evidence-based care for heart disease and stroke. The program’s monitoring, feedback and registry infrastructure have been associated with improved outcomes, reduced readmissions and lower mortality, and the recognition highlights local teams’ efforts to implement guideline-driven care.