Parkland Medical Center nationally recognized for commitment to excellence in stroke care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke awards for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care
 
DERRY, NH (August 12, 2026) – Parkland Medical Center, part of HCA Healthcare, has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke Gold Plus award demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
 
“This is the eighth consecutive year that Parkland Medical Center has received this national recognition, which is a testament to our care team’s commitment to providing exceptional stroke care and adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Whitney Fenyak, CEO of Parkland Medical Center. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover. I am proud of our teams and their continued dedication to the care of patients in our communities.”

Parkland Medical Center also received the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition. This recognition is awarded to hospitals that ensure stroke patients with Type 2 Diabetes get the right care to manage their condition, which is important for recovery and preventing future strokes.
 
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’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.
 
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.
 
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.
 
“We are proud to recognize Parkland Medical Center for its commitment to caring for people experiencing 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, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”
 
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About Parkland Medical Center
Parkland Medical Center is an 86-bed regional acute-care hospital with a Level III Trauma Center in Derry, NH. It is owned by HCA Healthcare, which operates four hospitals, three freestanding emergency rooms, an ambulatory surgery center, urgent care center, and 46 physician practices in New Hampshire, where it employs 2,600 colleagues and 554 physicians, provides $15.8 million in uncompensated care, and pays $43.8 million in taxes annually. HCA Healthcare’s New Hampshire hospitals also include Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, and freestanding emergency rooms in Dover, Nashua, Plaistow and Seabrook.