Naples, Fla. – July 22, 2026 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) has once again earned national recognition from the American Heart Association (AHA) for delivering exceptional, evidence-based stroke care, receiving multiple 2026 Get With The Guidelines® Stroke quality achievement awards for both of its hospitals. NCH Downtown Naples Hospital received: Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. NCH North Hospital received: NNH: Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
The annual awards recognize hospitals that consistently meet rigorous, evidence-based performance standards that improve outcomes for patients experiencing stroke. The 2026 recognitions are based on patient care provided between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025.
Stroke is a medical emergency in which an estimated 1.9 million brain cells die every minute treatment is delayed, making rapid recognition and evidence-based care essential to improving survival and reducing long-term disability. It remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States.
These latest honors further strengthen NCH’s reputation as one of the nation’s premier destinations for stroke care. The awards add to an exceptional list of national recognition for the health system, which was recently named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for the second year in a row, as well as recognized among Modern Healthcare’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals.
The awards also build upon the NCH Wingard Stroke Institute’s distinction as one of only five Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Florida. This certification represents the highest level of stroke center designation available and recognizes hospitals with the specialized expertise, advanced technology and multidisciplinary capabilities required to treat the most complex stroke cases 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
These awards validate what our patients experience every day: a highly coordinated team prepared to deliver the most advanced stroke care the moment they arrive,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “Every member of our stroke program shares a single goal – restoring lives by providing the right treatment as quickly as possible. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to continually raising the standard of stroke care for the patients and families who trust us with their care.”
The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke program helps hospitals improve patient outcomes by promoting adherence to the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines. Hospitals earning these awards have demonstrated sustained success in rapidly diagnosing and treating stroke patients while meeting stringent quality measures that improve survival, reduce complications and enhance recovery.
“The strength of the NCH Wingard Stroke Institute is our ability to deliver comprehensive stroke care every hour of every day,” said Mazen AbuAwad, MD, the John and Susan Morrison Endowed Chair and Executive Director of the NCH Wingard Stroke Institute. “From advanced neurointerventional procedures to intensive care and rehabilitation, we’ve built an integrated program designed to treat even the most complex stroke cases. These awards recognize not only outstanding outcomes, but the investment NCH has made in creating one of the region’s most advanced stroke programs.”
The institute will play a central role in the future R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center, further expanding access to nationally recognized stroke care for Southwest Florida.
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