John Muir Health earns national cardiovascular and stroke care honors

John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek medical centers were recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for meeting evidence-based standards in heart failure, coronary artery disease and stroke care. The awards highlight faster treatment, fewer readmissions and better outcomes for patients across Contra Costa County.

Why it matters: - The awards signal that John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers are meeting national standards for time-sensitive heart and stroke treatment. - The recognitions are tied to outcomes that matter to patients: more lives saved, shorter recovery times, fewer readmissions and less disability. - The honors also reinforce the role of regional hospitals in delivering advanced emergency care for severe heart attacks and strokes.

What happened: - The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognized John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers for cardiovascular and stroke care. - The 2026 awards cover heart failure, coronary artery disease STEMI care, stroke care, diabetes-related hospital management, and quality improvement. - John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers were named Contra Costa County STEMI Receiving Centers for severe heart attack patients.

The details: - Heart Failure Gold Plus went to both hospitals for commitment to improved outcomes for patients with heart failure. - Get With The Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus went to Concord, and Gold went to Walnut Creek, for rapid care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients. - Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus went to both hospitals for following nationally recognized treatment guidelines for stroke patients. - Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll went to both hospitals for reducing the time from arrival to treatment with alteplase, the clot-busting drug. - Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll went to both hospitals for giving hospitalized patients with Type 2 diabetes evidence-based care during heart disease or stroke treatment. - Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll went to Walnut Creek for reducing the time from arrival to treatment that removes the clot causing a stroke. - Commitment to Quality Award went to both hospitals for using the Get With The Guidelines program across cardiovascular and stroke service lines. - Dr. Faizul Haque, medical director of John Muir Health’s Cardiovascular Catheterization Lab, said heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the U.S.

Between the lines: - The awards suggest John Muir Health has built systems that support faster, guideline-based emergency care rather than isolated one-time achievements. - The recognition from national specialty groups can matter to patients and referring clinicians choosing where to seek care for heart attacks and strokes. - Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee, said the awards reflect John Muir Health’s commitment to community care and shared goals of better outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.

What's next: - John Muir Health is expected to continue participating in the Get With The Guidelines programs and maintain quality-improvement efforts across its cardiovascular and stroke services. - The hospital system will likely keep focusing on speed, guideline adherence and patient education to support recovery at home.

The bottom line: - John Muir Health’s Concord and Walnut Creek Medical Centers are being recognized for delivering evidence-based heart and stroke care that can improve survival and recovery.