Top marks for stroke care mean better recoveries for families in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties

When someone has a stroke, time is everything. The faster care begins, the better the chances of recovery. For families across Flagler, Lake, and Volusia counties, that speed — and the training behind it — could mean returning home instead of facing lifelong complications.

That’s the impact behind this year’s recognition from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, which again honored all seven hospitals in AdventHealth’s East Florida Division with the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus designation. Each also earned additional recognition on the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, benchmarks that reflect how consistently teams deliver evidence-based stroke care when every second matters.

The AdventHealth East Florida Division includes seven hospitals in Daytona Beach, DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Palm Coast and Tavares — caring for nearly 1.3 million people each year.

“Every second counts when it comes to stroke care,” said Wendy Weisheimer, neuroscience service line director for the AdventHealth East Florida Division. “Our teams are trained and ready around the clock to deliver guideline-driven treatment. We’re honored by this recognition because it reflects our commitment to exceptional stroke care for our communities.”

In addition, AdventHealth Daytona Beach is the only hospital in Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties to earn the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from DNV, a globally respected accreditation body. This designation reflects the highest level of competence for treating serious stroke events.

Dr. Andrew Weinfeld, chief clinical officer for AdventHealth East Florida Division, said the recognition represents preparedness that translates directly into better patient outcomes.

"Our multidisciplinary teams follow standardized, evidence-based pathways designed to expedite diagnosis and treatment,” said Weinfeld. “That level of preparedness, reinforced through ongoing training and coordinated teamwork, translates into improved outcomes, shorter hospital stays and better recovery for our patients.”

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Treatments such as clot-busting medication and procedures to remove clots can greatly improve survival and recovery, but only when they start fast and follow evidence-based steps.

Earning these honors across all seven hospitals shows the same readiness, which is in place close to home.

“These achievements aren’t about awards,” said Weinfeld. “They’re about people — our friends, our families, our neighbors — having the best possible chance at recovery because the right care was ready when they needed it.”