University Health earns national recognition for excellence in stroke care

Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award is highest level of honor

The University Health stroke program has earned a 2026 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award, the highest level of recognition from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, for its enduring commitment to superior patient care.

In addition to the Stroke Gold Plus award, University Hospital also earned three other awards based on data for the previous two years, 2024-2025:

• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award, for reducing the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.

• Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award, for reducing the time between a patient’s arrival and treatment to remove the blood clot causing the stroke.

• Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, for ensuring patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at increased risk for complications, receive the highest level of care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and one of the top causes of disability in the U.S. These national honors recognize University Hospital for improving care and outcomes with timely, appropriate treatment and research-based decision-making for patients experiencing stroke. 

“By combining advanced technology with a deeply collaborative spirit, we ensure our community receives the highest tier of care to achieve the best possible outcomes,” said Sujani Bandela, MD, co-medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at University Health, the only Joint Commission-certified comprehensive stroke center in San Antonio.

In addition to treating common types of strokes, the advanced stroke team at University Health is fully equipped to care for the most complex cases, including strokes in children, during pregnancy or postpartum, and those related to cancer.

The multidisciplinary stroke team at University Hospital includes a host of specialists: stroke neurologists, endovascular neurosurgeons, neurocritical care and emergency physicians, rehabilitation specialists, therapists, pharmacists, dedicated nurses, and case managers.

“Providing world-class stroke care truly takes a village,” said Bandela, who is also an associate professor with UT Health Science Center San Antonio. “We are incredibly proud of our amazing team.”