Peconic Bay Medical Center earns top stroke-care award after neuroscience center opening

Peconic Bay Medical Center has earned the American Heart Association’s highest stroke-care recognition to date, the hospital announced Monday — just months after opening its new neuroscience center in Riverhead.

The hospital received the association’s Gold Plus award through its Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program, along with recognition on the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

The Gold Plus designation recognizes hospitals that have met the program’s core stroke-care standards for at least two consecutive years, while the additional honor rolls recognize rapid treatment of stroke patients and high-quality care for patients with Type 2 diabetes.

“This award is a reflection of the commitment of our entire stroke care team, and of the investments this community has made to support advanced care close to home,” said PBMC President Amy Loeb.

The award recognizes hospitals that consistently follow evidence-based guidelines for acute stroke treatment, including the timely administration of clot-busting medication, brain imaging, patient transfers and coordination with stroke specialists.

“These awards reflect Peconic Bay Medical Center’s commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular and stroke care,” said Karen Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Peconic Bay Medical Center can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates—a win for patients, families and health care systems.”

PBMC’s recognition comes four months after the opening of the Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch Neurosciences Center, which made the hospital the first in Eastern Suffolk County able to perform cerebral mechanical thrombectomy, a specialized procedure that can restore blood flow to the brain during an ischemic stroke.

“With the opening of the Bill and Ruth Ann Harnisch Neurosciences Center and our dedicated stroke team delivering life-saving interventions every day, we are proud to be recognized on a national stage, especially as we celebrate 75 years of serving this community,” Ms. Loeb said.

PBMC has been a New York State-designated stroke center since 2006.

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport also received recognition through the American Heart Association’s program, earning the Rural Recognition Bronze Award for its stroke-care.

The rural designation recognizes hospitals that meet stroke-care performance standards while serving communities that often face longer transport times and fewer specialized medical resources.

People living in rural communities face significant health challenges, including an average life expectancy three years shorter than their urban counterparts, a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30% greater risk of stroke-related death, according to the American Heart Association.

“We are proud that our team at SBELIH is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people on the North Fork and Shelter Island who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said SBELIH Chief Administrative Officer Paul Connor. “This 2026 award by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association affirms that SBELIH meets rigorous national standards for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke by applying the latest evidence-based guidelines to improve patient outcomes in our East End communities.”