The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® Stroke awards for demonstrating commitment to delivering evidence-based, life-saving stroke care.

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital have received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke quality achievement awards for their commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.

The awards received are as follows:

• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center – Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center – Get with the Guidelines® Rural Stroke Gold
• Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital – Get with the Guidelines® Rural Stroke Gold
• Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital – Get with the Guidelines® Rural Stroke Gold

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.

Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.

“Ephraim McDowell Health is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Dan McKay, president and CEO, Ephraim McDowell Health. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in our communities live longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to help people manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.

“We are proud to recognize Ephraim McDowell Health for their commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”