RUHS Medical Center Awarded Gold Plus Status for High-Quality Stroke Treatment

MORENO VALLEY, CA — For the 13th consecutive year, Riverside University Health System – Medical Center has earned national recognition from the American Heart Association for its stroke care.

The Moreno Valley facility received the association’s "Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Gold Plus" quality achievement award for consistently applying nationally recognized, research-backed treatment protocols. The medical center first achieved gold status in 2014.

In addition to the primary distinction, the hospital received two specialized honors: the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award, for rapidly administering clot-busting medications to patients, and the Target: Type 2 Diabetes award, for providing tailored care to stroke patients with diabetes.

"Our Medical Center provides exceptional stroke and diabetes care to the people of Riverside County," Dr. Alexandra Clark, chief medical officer, said in a statement. "We’re proud of our work and are always striving to improve outcomes by implementing new research-backed treatments to speed recovery."

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and a primary driver of long-term disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 heart disease and stroke statistics report. The condition occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts, making rapid diagnosis and intervention vital to survival and recovery.

To qualify for the Get With The Guidelines awards, hospitals must demonstrate strict adherence to clinical care standards and provide comprehensive discharge education to assist patients with recovery at home.

The medical center, which is a 439-bed teaching facility and Riverside County’s public safety net provider, also holds certification as a Primary Stroke Center from The Joint Commission.