Four UCI Health hospitals receive American Heart Association Gold Plus Achievement Awards

UCI Health ― Orange, three community network hospitals honored for treatment of heart failure, stoke and type 2 diabetes

Orange, Calif. — Four UCI Health hospitals have been recognized with the 2025 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the Association’s Stroke and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Awards.

The hospitals — UCI Health — Orange, formerly known as UCI Medical Center, along with community network locations UCI Health — Fountain Valley, UCI Health — Lakewood and UCI Health — Los Alamitos — received the same designations in 2024, which recognize hospitals that demonstrate specific capabilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.

Additionally, UCI Health — Orange received the Heart Failure Gold Plus and Target Heart Failure Optimal Award, which recognizes the hospital’s commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure through the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines, resulting in reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.

“Such accolades affirm the nearly 50-year UCI Health dedication to providing high-level heart, stroke and diabetes care to the communities that we serve,” said Chad T. Lefteris, president and CEO of UCI Health. “They also reflect the commitment of our co-workers to improving the health of our patients through evidence-based whole-person care.”

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors, such as high blood pressure.

Acting quickly during the first few moments of a stroke can improve survival, minimize disability and accelerate recovery times. Prompt treatment can also significantly improve the likelihood of a full recovery.

According to the American Heart Association, about 6.7 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure, which is expected to increase to more than 8 million by 2030. While there’s no cure, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team to create and stick with a treatment plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.

UCI Health — Orange is home to Orange County’s first Joint Commission-certified comprehensive stroke center, equipped to provide rapid treatment for patients with acute stroke and complex cerebrovascular diseases — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

UCI Health ― Lakewood has also met the stringent requirements of the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification Program. This program, administered by DNV GL Healthcare USA, Inc., integrates specific requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Conditions of Participation for Hospitals, as well as guidelines from the Brain Attack Coalition and recommendations of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association®.

UCI Health — Orange has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® for its Advanced Heart Failure Program Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.