Following its recent national awards for cardiovascular and stroke care, Ozarks Healthcare has announced new clinical milestones for its stroke treatment program, including a 17-minute administration time for life-saving medication.
The hospital recently achieved a 17-minute "door-to-needle" time, a metric that measures how long it takes from a patient's arrival in the emergency department to receiving clot-busting medication. The American Heart Association recommends a benchmark of 60 minutes or less for eligible patients.
"Every minute during a stroke matters because brain cells are lost each minute treatment is delayed," said Dr. Clara Applegate, a neurologist at Ozarks Healthcare. "Our team's ability to consistently deliver rapid, evidence-based care is making a real difference for patients and families throughout our region."
The facility's stroke team has treated 157 stroke patients so far in 2026. Last year, the team cared for 289 stroke patients across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas.
Operating as a designated Level II Primary Stroke Center, the hospital has provided continuous 24-hour stroke coverage for nearly three decades. The facility treated its first patient with tissue plasminogen activator, a clot-busting medication used for eligible ischemic strokes, in October 1996. Today, the hospital provides advanced imaging, comprehensive rehabilitation services and access to neurology expertise through both onsite staff and telemedicine consultations with Washington University neurologists.
The stroke program is led by Applegate, who has served the community for more than 35 years, alongside stroke coordinator Lindsey Crain and a multidisciplinary team of emergency physicians, nurses and therapists.
These program milestones follow the recent announcement that Ozarks Healthcare earned the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus and Rural Stroke Gold achievement awards.
Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare president and CEO, noted that adhering to the latest research-based treatment guidelines helps save lives and reduce hospital readmissions.
"These awards reflect our team's unwavering commitment to providing timely, high-quality stroke care for patients throughout the region," Farrell said.
