Bismarck recognized by AHA for excellence in stroke care
Oct. 6, 2026
Contact:
Chelsey Kralicek
Sanford Health Media Relations
701-516-4903 / Chelsey.Kralicek@SanfordHealth.org
BISMARCK, N.D. – Sanford Bismarck has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award, recognizing its commitment to providing timely, appropriate stroke treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
The Gold Plus designation recognizes hospitals that demonstrate two or more consecutive calendar years of 85% or higher adherence to applicable achievement measures and 75% or higher adherence to additional select quality measures for stroke care.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, 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. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, reducing disability and supporting recovery.
“When someone is experiencing a stroke, every minute matters,” said Todd Schaffer, M.D., president & CEO, Sanford Bismarck. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire stroke care team and the work they do every day to provide patients with timely, high-quality care. From the moment a patient arrives, our teams work together to quickly diagnose and treat stroke, giving patients the best possible opportunity for recovery. We are proud to provide this level of care right here in Bismarck.”
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide to help ensure patient care aligns with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. The Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program is designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, helping reduce the long-term effects of stroke and prevent death.
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for recognition by demonstrating their commitment to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, participating hospitals provide education to help patients manage their recovery and ongoing health after leaving the hospital.
Sanford Bismarck also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll award. The recognition is awarded to hospitals that meet specific criteria aimed at reducing the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
In addition, Sanford Bismarck received the Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. The initiative recognizes hospitals for providing patients with Type 2 diabetes, who may be at a higher risk for complications, with up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized with a stroke.
These recognitions highlight Sanford Bismarck’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based stroke care and ensuring patients across the region have access to timely treatment close to home.
The Sanford Health Bismarck Region provides healthcare to central and western North Dakota, eastern Montana and northern South Dakota. It includes 26 clinics in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston and Watford City, as well as a Level II trauma center located in Bismarck.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience and providing access to world-class healthcare in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 60,000 employees and serves more than 2.5 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 60 hospitals, 315 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,900 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. Nearly 450 residents and fellows are trained each year through over 40 graduate medical education programs, with Sanford Health serving as the primary funding source for 75% of the programs. Sanford Health also includes 92 retail pharmacies, including Sanford and Lewis Drug pharmacies with locations in 6 states, and more than 300 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural healthcare across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
###
