Huntington Hospital Earns National Stroke Care Award as Stroke Patient Volume Triples

Huntington Hospital now treats more than 1,000 stroke patients a year — nearly triple the number from a decade ago — and the American Heart Association says the Pasadena medical center is doing it right.

The hospital has received the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award, a national recognition for delivering timely, evidence-based stroke care that helps save lives and reduce disability, according to a hospital statement. The Gold Plus designation reflects at least 24 consecutive months of meeting specific treatment benchmarks, including at least 85 percent compliance with seven clinical achievement measures, according to the AHA’s recognition criteria.

“Here at Huntington Hospital, we are doing all we can to remain at the forefront of stroke care,” said Arbi Ohanian, MD, a neurologist and the medical director of the hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability, according to the AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.

As a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center — a certification granted by the Joint Commission for hospitals capable of treating the most complex stroke cases — Huntington uses advanced technology for stroke interventions and care, according to the press release.

“Right now, we are seeing over 1,000 strokes per year at Huntington; nearly triple the number we saw a decade ago,” Ohanian said. “Unfortunately, this figure is only expected to increase because of our aging population; the risk of stroke exponentially increases with age – doubling with each decade after the age of 65.”

But Ohanian said he feels Huntington is prepared. “We have advanced imaging equipment to help make the best possible clinical decisions for patients and multiple stroke-trained neurologists and neuroradiologists on staff – a rarity in most hospitals,” he said. “We have a wide breadth of expertise and are especially well prepared to deal with complex stroke cases.”

In addition to the Gold Plus award, Huntington received the Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Advanced Therapy awards for meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke, according to the press release. The hospital additionally received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for ensuring patients with type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

“We are proud to recognize Huntington Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, 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, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”

Huntington Hospital is a 534-bed nonprofit community medical center at 100 W. California Blvd. in Pasadena, and an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai. Its stroke program includes a dedicated 12-bed inpatient stroke unit and a neuro-critical care unit. More information about the program is available at huntingtonhealth.org/our-services/neurology/stroke-program.

According to the American Heart Association, 80 percent of strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle changes and managing medical risk factors. Seeing a neurologist if unexplained symptoms occur, like uncontrolled headaches, balance issues, dizziness or numbing/tingling sensations, is also helpful, the press release noted.

Get With The Guidelines is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, the program has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001, according to the association.