Altru Hospital Earns AHA Stroke Gold Plus Award in Grand Forks

Altru Hospital in Grand Forks has received the American Heart Association’s Get  With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring  people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized,  research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability. 

“Altru is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Cory  Edwards, MD. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in our  region live longer, healthier lives.” 

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 t o 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 Altru 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.” 

Altru also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award.  Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure 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. Altru Hospital in Devils Lake recently received the American Heart Association’s Get With The  Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Silver Achievement Award.