Baxter Health in Mtn. Home, Ark., has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award for its efforts to optimize stroke care and address the specific health needs of rural communities, officials announce.
According to an American Heart Association advisory on rural health, people living in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than their urban counterparts. Rural populations also face a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality.
The association recognizes rural hospitals with this award based on performance metrics related to early acute stroke care. To qualify for the recognition, facilities are evaluated on guideline-directed measures that include emergency medical services communication, brain imaging, intravenous thrombolytic therapy, dysphagia screening and timely hospital transfers.
Rachel Gilbert, chief nursing officer at Baxter Health, noted that achieving the gold recognition — the highest level of the award — demonstrates a unified effort across the hospital's patient care teams.
"This recognition reflects Baxter Health's commitment to delivering exceptional, evidence-based stroke care so our patients receive the right treatment as quickly as possible when every minute matters," Gilbert said.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, stopping oxygen from reaching brain tissue and causing cells to die. The American Heart Association's 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report lists stroke as the fourth-leading cause of death and a primary cause of disability in the United States. Health officials stress that early detection and rapid treatment are essential to minimizing disability and improving survival rates.
Dr. Karen E. Joynt Maddox, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee, commended the facility for its commitment to serving its community, which spans north central Arkansas and south central Missouri.
"Baxter Health has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live," Maddox said.
