Adventist Health Simi Valley Nationally Recognized for Cardiac and Stroke Care

Adventist Health Simi Valley has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards — for stroke and coronary artery disease – STEMI receiving — for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart attack and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Adventist Health Simi Valley has received the Get With the Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus award for the last three years. It is also the only hospital in Ventura County to hold a Gold award in Get With the Guidelines - Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving.

An ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a specific type of heart attack known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks and occurs when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by a blockage or a rupture of a blood vessel. Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke and Get With the Guidelines - Coronary Artery Disease are in-hospital programs for improving stroke and heart attack care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines. Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI, while the stroke award is given to organizations that have demonstrated commitment to following treatment guidelines and educating patients, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“Adventist Health Simi Valley is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” said Mark Mitchelson, Adventist Health Simi Valley Patient Care Executive. “These Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in Simi Valley experience longer, healthier lives.”

This year, Adventist Health Simi Valley received these achievement awards:

• Get With the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus award with Target: Stroke and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll^TM awards
  • Target: Stroke - To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
  • 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.
• Get With the Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold award

“These awards show Adventist Health Simi Valley’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Adventist Health Simi Valley can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families, and communities.”

About Get With The Guidelines^®

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.