Allina Health hospitals nationally recognized for expert stroke care

MINNEAPOLIS (August 7, 2026) — Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute has received the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions. Eleven Allina Health hospitals received recognition:

Abbott Northwestern Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite 
• Target: Advanced Therapy
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

Buffalo Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

Cambridge Medical Center
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll
• Get With The Guidelines Rural Stroke Silver

Faribault Medical Center
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll
• Get With The Guidelines Rural Stroke Silver

Mercy Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

Mercy Hospital - Unity Campus
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

New Ulm Medical Center
• Get With The Guidelines Rural Stroke Bronze

Owatonna Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Rural Stroke Bronze

River Falls Area Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll
• Get With The Guidelines Rural Stroke Silver

St. Francis Regional Medical Center
• Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus
• Target: Stroke Honor Roll
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

United Hospital
• Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus
• Target: Stroke Elite Plus
• Target: Advanced Therapy
• Target: Diabetes Honor Roll

"At Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute, we are committed to providing expert stroke care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin," said Ganesh Asaithambi, MD, system medical director of Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute’s Stroke and Neurology Programs. "By following the latest guidelines and streamlining care, we aim to continuously improve as we deliver timely, effective stroke treatment. We are grateful for the support of the Get With The Guidelines program and their partnership to improve health outcomes." 

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. 

“These awards reflect Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute’s commitment to caring for people in their community who need stroke care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Allina Health can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and health care systems.”