Julia Welbourne for Rochester Regional Health / August 21, 2026
Newark, NY – For patients experiencing a stroke in the Finger Lakes, every minute matters. Newark-Wayne Community Hospital (NWCH) is reinforcing its role as a trusted destination for stroke care in Wayne County and surrounding communities after earning top honors from the American Heart Association (AHA) for the quality and timeliness of its stroke care.
NWCH has once again received the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Achievement, the highest possible designation, along with special honors in diabetes care. The hospital also earned Stroke Honor Role Elite and Rural Stroke Gold, a distinction recognizing rural hospitals that demonstrate excellence in acute stroke care.
Together, these recognitions reflect NWCH’s commitment to providing patients with timely, evidence-based stroke treatment in the Finger Lakes. As a New York State-designated Primary Stroke Center, Newark-Wayne provides 24/7 emergency stroke response, rapid assessment and treatment, and coordinated care from emergency medicine, neurology, and rehabilitation specialists.
“Stroke care is one of those areas where time truly matters, and our team understands the importance of being ready to respond quickly and effectively when a patient arrives,” said NWCH President and CEO Mike Rulffes. “These recognitions from the American Heart Association demonstrate the expertise, teamwork, and dedication our stroke team brings to every patient. For people throughout Wayne County and the surrounding Finger Lakes communities, Newark-Wayne is proud to be a place they can turn to for premier stroke care here at home.”
Stroke Honor Roll Elite recognizes hospitals that consistently meet performance measures for providing timely stroke treatment, while the Gold Plus and Rural Stroke Gold distinctions recognize sustained adherence to evidence-based stroke care practices.
NWCH is one of several Rochester Regional Health hospitals recognized by the American Heart Association this year.
Rochester General Hospital earned Stroke Gold Plus for the 13th consecutive year, along with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
United Memorial Medical Center earned Stroke Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite, Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Rural Stroke Gold.
Unity Hospital received Stroke Silver Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
Canton-Potsdam Hospital received Stroke Gold Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Rural Stroke Bronze.
To learn more about these rankings and what they mean here.
For survivors and those affected by stroke, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital holds a Stroke Survivor and Care Partner support group on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 10-11am at the hospital in the 1st floor conference room. The support group is open to all. Those interested in learning more can call Rebecca Huber at (585) 309-4444.
