From HoCo: Howard County General Hospital's Primary Stroke Program passed its recertification survey and received accreditation for another five years from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, which oversees and coordinates all components of the statewide emergency medical services system.

Howard County General Hospital's stroke program, started 10 years ago in 2008, offers a system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. This includes using a team approach to stroke evaluations with brain-imaging scans, bedside providers and neurologists conducting patient evaluations and treatment with clot-busting medications and other advanced therapies. Care continues after patients leave the hospital with a stroke support group consisting of patients and caregivers.

For eight consecutive years, the stroke program has received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Quality Achievement Awards and most recently the Target: Stroke Honor Roll–Elite Quality Achievement Award. These awards recognize the hospital's commitment to providing stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines.