HCA Healthcare and HCA Healthcare Foundation Extend $3.9 Million Partnership with the American Heart Association to Advance Stroke Prevention, Cardiovascular Care, and Community Education
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers, together with the HCA Healthcare Foundation, has reaffirmed its commitment to the American Heart Association (AHA) through a $3.9 million investment in the Getting to the Heart of Stroke™ initiative. This renewed collaboration builds upon the original partnership launched in 2022 and aims to strengthen the connection between cardiovascular and brain health, while improving stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery outcomes across the United States.
Expanding a Multi-Year Partnership
The collaboration between HCA Healthcare, its Foundation, and the American Heart Association has centered on tackling one of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S.—stroke. Since the program’s inception three years ago, the initiative has focused on deepening the understanding of the link between atrial fibrillation (AFib) and stroke risk, fostering collaboration between cardiology and neurology disciplines, and ensuring that both clinicians and communities are equipped with evidence-based tools for prevention and early intervention.
The new $3.9 million in funding ensures that the initiative will continue into its fourth year, allowing both organizations to expand outreach programs, intensify quality improvement initiatives within hospitals, and broaden education efforts at both the professional and community levels.
“Over the past three years, Getting to the Heart of Stroke™ has demonstrated the power of aligning clinical expertise, community engagement, and research to reduce the devastating impact of stroke,” said Joanne Pulles, vice president of community engagement at HCA Healthcare and president of the HCA Healthcare Foundation. “This renewal of our partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing heart and brain health outcomes.”
Measurable Impact Since 2022
The initiative has already made a measurable difference nationwide. With the support of the HCA Healthcare Foundation, outreach efforts have reached more than 200 million people through education campaigns focused on AFib awareness and stroke prevention. Community outreach has been a cornerstone of the program, with engagement across 160 local organizations, including schools, food pantries, clinics, and libraries.
Programs developed under this initiative have targeted major risk factors for stroke, such as uncontrolled blood pressure and poor nutrition. For example, intervention programs have been implemented to address food insecurity, improve maternal health, and provide accessible tools to help individuals manage their blood pressure at home.
Beyond community education, the program has had a significant clinical impact. A key component of the partnership has been the establishment of a learning collaborative across 10 HCA Healthcare hospitals. These facilities worked closely with the AHA to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment for stroke patients. Through increased teamwork between cardiologists and neurologists, as well as broader adoption of evidence-based testing, the hospitals reported a 33% improvement in identifying the underlying cause of stroke.
These results have not gone unnoticed. The findings have been presented at national medical conferences, including the AHA’s Scientific Sessions and the International Stroke Conference, underscoring the initiative’s importance to the broader medical community.
Advancing Education for Healthcare Professionals
Another significant contribution of the partnership has been the development of accredited continuing education programs for healthcare professionals. These programs, informed by the expertise of HCA Healthcare’s clinical leaders, aim to keep practitioners at the forefront of stroke and cardiovascular care. The curricula emphasize the heart-brain connection and provide practical strategies for improving patient outcomes.
By equipping physicians, nurses, and other providers with the latest evidence-based approaches, the program ensures that frontline healthcare workers are better prepared to diagnose, manage, and prevent strokes. This professional education is particularly valuable given the complex interplay between cardiovascular disease and neurological outcomes.
