Corpus Christi Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to providing timely, evidence-based care for people experiencing stroke.
Corpus Christi Medical Center also earned Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition. These awards recognize hospitals that meet specific criteria to help reduce the time between a patient’s arrival and treatment for stroke caused by a clot, as well as provide evidence-based care for patients with type 2 diabetes.
“Corpus Christi Medical Center is committed to delivering timely, high-quality stroke care guided by the latest evidence-based practices,” said David Irizarry, CEO of Corpus Christi Medical Center. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our doctors, nurses and care teams who put proven science into action every day for patients and families across the Coastal Bend.”
As a Primary Stroke Center, Corpus Christi Medical Center follows research-based guidelines for the rapid evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Early detection and treatment are critical to improving survival and reducing disability.
“When someone is experiencing a stroke, every minute matters,” said Dr. Faheem Sheriff, neuroendovascular specialist at Corpus Christi Medical Center. “This accomplishment reflects a coordinated team prepared to move quickly and deliver the right care at the right time.”
In addition to the Get With The Guidelines recognition, Corpus Christi Medical Center is certified by The Joint Commission as a primary stroke center. This certification reflects that Corpus Christi Medical Center has met national standards for stroke care, including dedicated protocols, specialized staff and rapid response processes for time-sensitive stroke emergencies such as administering clot-busting medications or performing surgical interventions. Patients experiencing a stroke also have access to life-saving clot medications at Corpus Christi Medical Center’s five emergency departments: Bay Area, Doctors Regional, ER 24/7 Rockport, ER 24/7 Portland and ER 24/7 Northwest Corpus Christi.
Anyone experiencing signs of stroke, including face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty, should call 911 immediately.