The Stroke Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center has been recognized as one of the top stroke treatment centers in Southern California by the American Stroke Association in U.S. News and World Report's renowned America's Best Hospitals review.

Just 18 months old, the Burbank hospital's stroke center was awarded the Bronze Initial Performance Award by "Get With the Guidelines," a program sponsored by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to promote evidence-based treatment and results for patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.

"We are extremely proud of this achievement," said Barry Wolfman, chief executive of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. "It has taken most facilities in our area four or five years or more for Primary Stroke Center Certification. It took us just 18 months, so to be awarded like this is a testament to the physicians, the nurses and the entire staff who worked together to make Providence Saint Joseph one of the best places in the region for stroke diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation."

In April, the stroke center received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission for Advanced Primary Stroke Centers and, months before, HealthGrades, the nation's leading health care ratings company, ranked Providence Saint Joseph among the top 5 percent in the nation for the treatment of stroke.

"This is huge, seeing that we were just certified March 21. To make that ranking is awesome, especially for a community hospital," said registered nurse Lisa Armstrong, stroke center manager.

The Bronze award is given to newer centers - some of them 5 years old - to recognize those that have achieved an 85 percent or higher adherence to all the performance measures for optimal stroke care. The survey looks at results, nursing care and technology.

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association work together to identify the nation's top stroke care centers for U.S. News and World Report's annual hospital ratings feature.

Providence Saint Joseph was among the 518 hospitals recognized for heart disease and stroke care and listed on the magazine's web site.

The stroke center team takes action with stroke patients "as soon as they hit the door," Armstrong said.

Team members are trained to quickly recognize stroke, diagnose the type of stroke and begin treatment.

An assessment for rehabilitation is completed as soon as possible, contributing to improved patient outcome, she said. Providence Saint Joseph operates one of just a handful of such treatments centers in Los Angeles County.