The American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® – Bronze award highlights excellence
in stroke care
EVANSTON, IL (August 19, 2025) – Saint Francis Hospital, a non-profit member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, has received the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Bronze quality achievement award from the American Heart Association for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive care based on the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. This recognition reflects the hospital’s dedication to improving survival, recovery, and quality of life for stroke patients.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the United States, occurring when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked or bursts. Without immediate treatment, brain cells begin to die, making early detection and evidence-based care critical to improving outcomes and reducing long-term disability.
The Get With The Guidelines® program brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to hospitals nationwide, helping providers consistently deliver proven practices that improve outcomes, reduce complications, and save lives.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Saint Francis Hospital for its 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 The Get With The Guidelines® is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates — a win for health systems, families, and communities.”
Each year, hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating their dedication to providing quality care for stroke patients and educating them on managing their health and recovery after discharge.
“Saint Francis Hospital is proud to receive the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke award from the American Heart Association,” said David Kobis, CEO of Saint Francis Hospital. “This recognition affirms our commitment to delivering the highest standard of stroke care and improving outcomes for our patients. With Prime Healthcare’s ongoing support, we are expanding access to advanced technology and clinical programs, ensuring families in Evanston can rely on us for expert, compassionate care when it matters most.”
In addition to this recognition, Saint Francis Hospital was recently named one of the 100 Great Community Hospitals by Becker’s Healthcare, earned six “A” grades on the 2025–2026 Lown Institute Hospitals Index, and received its third consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. The hospital ranked number one in the nation for Pay Equity and placed among the top five in Illinois for Patient Safety and Health Equity.
About Saint Francis Hospital
Founded in 1900, Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, a not-for-profit member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, is a 197-bed teaching facility that offers specialized care alongside 24/7 emergency services, including a Level I adult trauma center, the highest level of critical care possible for trauma patients. Saint Francis provides advanced surgical interventions for serious and life-threatening conditions. It also offers expertise in cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics, and an array of minimally invasive procedures including robotic-assisted surgery that often results in same-day discharges and significantly shorter recovery times. Its dedicated care teams prioritize understanding their patients’ health needs to deliver the most appropriate care tailored for them.