The American Heart Association recognized hospitals across the country for their commitment to improving care for patients with heart disease and stroke through its Get With The Guidelines® quality improvement programs. Among those recognized was CHOC, now Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County.

Nationwide, more than 3,000 hospitals take part in these efforts, helping ensure patients receive care aligned with the most up‑to‑date, research‑based treatment guidelines.

Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the 2026 American Heart Association 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics report. These conditions require swift, proven treatment to achieve the best outcomes. Through Get With The Guidelines, hospitals use real‑time data, clinical best practices and performance feedback to improve adherence to evidence‑based care for conditions such as stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease.

“The quality of care available across our communities has a direct impact on the health and vitality of the people who live and work throughout our region,” said Ryan Lahti, Chair of the Orange County, Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Board of Directors and Founder and Managing Principal of OrgLeader, LLC. “We’re proud to recognize these hospitals for their commitment to evidence-based care and continuous improvement. Their leadership helps strengthen the communities they serve.”

Participation in Get With The Guidelines has been associated with better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality, and the program has also been shown to reduce disparities in care for several populations. Since its launch more than two decades ago, millions of patient records have contributed to registries that help drive research and real‑world improvements in cardiovascular care.