Ozarks Healthcare has earned recognition for providing advanced heart attack and stroke care from The Joint Commission and Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
The certifications highlight Ozarks Healthcare’s dedication to being the region’s leader in comprehensive cardiac and stroke system of care, ensuring patients have access to advanced, life-saving treatment close to home, hospital officials said.
Achieving Level II Stroke and STEMI designations ensures that patients in the local community can receive expert care quickly without traveling long distances, they added. STEMI stands for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, a severe type of heart attack.
The Primary Heart Attack Center Certification is designed for hospitals performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention — an angioplasty procedure used to quickly open blocked coronary arteries during a heart attack — and receiving referrals from other facilities.
The Primary Stroke Center Certification is awarded to hospitals that meet rigorous objective third-party standards for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke, including the use of evidence-based protocols, rescue medications and coordination with emergency medical services. Such medical facilities provide immediate, specialized care that can significantly improve patient outcomes and recovery.
Hospital officials reminded the community that time is a crucial component in survivability from cardiac and neurologic injuries and the certifications also require 24/7 coverage and availability of specialized teams to treat patients when every second counts.
Ozarks Healthcare also demonstrated excellence in multiple areas, including emergency response coordination, catheterization and imaging services, and inpatient care.
“These certifications highlight our caregivers’ seamless collaboration and dedication to pursuing excellence,” Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO Terence Farrell said. “Especially as we observe Diabetes Awareness Month this November, it’s important to recognize that diabetes is a major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. These certifications ensure that patients in our region have access to expert, coordinated care when it matters most.”
Ozarks Healthcare’s Stroke Certification is valid from Aug. 21, 2025, through Aug. 21, 2028, while its STEMI Certification as a Primary Heart Attack Center extends from Oct. 1, 2025, through Oct. 1, 2027. The next closest Level II facilities for stroke care are 100 miles away from Ozarks Healthcare.
Leading the stroke and heart care teams are neurologist Dr. Clara Applegate and cardiologists Dr. Hussain Ibrahim, Dr. A.K. George, Dr. Andrea Moyer and Dr. Muhammad Khan.
Ozarks Healthcare Cardiology offers a full range of cardiac services, from prevention and diagnosis to advanced treatment and rehabilitation. The center’s team of board-certified cardiologists and pulmonologists provides care for conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and lung disease. Advanced diagnostic tools, including echocardiography, stress testing and cardiac catheterization, allow the team to deliver personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs, said hospital officials.
Ozarks Healthcare Neurology provides care for diseases and disorders of the nervous system, specializing in the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. Clinic staff are able to care and provide critical rehabilitation to help stroke patients live life to the fullest during stroke recovery, officials added.
