Prime Healthcare Illinois Hospitals Earn Prestigious American Heart Association Awards

Prime Healthcare Illinois Hospitals Earn Prestigious American Heart Association Awards

CHICAGO, Ill. (September 4, 2025) - Five Prime Healthcare Illinois hospitals have earned six American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines^® achievement awards, recognizing their commitment to following the latest research-based treatment protocols for heart disease and stroke. These proven practices lead to more lives saved, faster recovery, and fewer hospital readmissions.

The 2025 Get With The Guidelines^®- Mission Lifeline and Stroke awards reflect Prime Healthcare's success in ensuring patients receive care aligned with the latest scientific evidence. Heart disease and stroke remain the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, underscoring the importance of treatment that follows proven guidelines to improve survival and recovery.

"We are incredibly pleased to recognize Prime Healthcare Illinois hospitals for their commitment to caring for patients with stroke," said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. "Participation in Get With The Guidelines^®is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates - a win for health care systems, families, and communities."

Prime Healthcare Illinois Award-Winning Hospitals

In addition to the Gold Plus awards, Prime Illinois hospitals earned further distinctions. Resurrection Medical Center and Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet achieved the Target: Stroke^SMHonor Roll Elite award for meeting door-to-needle times of 60 minutes or less in at least 85% of patients, while Saint Joseph Hospital - Elgin and Saint Mary of Nazareth earned the Target: Stroke^SMHonor Roll for reaching this benchmark in at least 75% of patients. Four of the five hospitals also received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll, recognizing their commitment to providing the latest evidence-based stroke care for patients with diabetes.

Get With The Guidelines® -Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Award, formerly known as the Mission: Lifeline Award, recognizes hospitals that implement quality improvement measures for patients experiencing severe heart attacks known as STEMIs. Resurrection Medical Center earned the Bronze Receiving designation for rapidly restoring blood flow through timely interventions and coordinated emergency response, ensuring patients receive care that meets national standards of excellence.

Resurrection Medical Center and Saint Joseph Medical Center - Joliet have also been designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers, reflecting adherence to the highest standards in stroke care. This designation ensures both hospitals are equipped with advanced systems for rapid diagnosis and treatment, providing life-saving expertise when every second matters.

"These prestigious awards reflect the unwavering commitment of our physicians, nurses, and staff across Illinois to deliver exceptional, evidence-based care," said Sunny Bhatia, MD, President and Chief Medical Officer of Prime Healthcare. "We are proud to have welcomed all of our Illinois hospitals, whose dedication strengthens our mission. With 84% of Prime hospitals nationwide recognized by Get With The Guidelines®, these honors reaffirm our commitment to revitalizing hospitals, improving outcomes, and serving communities with compassion and excellence."

Prime Healthcare operates 51 hospitals and more than 360 outpatient locations in 14 states, serving 2.3 million patients annually. Its hospitals have been recognized 72 times on the 100 Top Hospitals list by Premier, honored for quality and health equity by the Lown Institute, and most recently, 18 Prime hospitals were recognized by U.S. News and 16 received Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades.

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