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by Mercy's Kate Shupert
Key points:
- Mercy Hospital Southeast received the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus and Coronary Artery Disease non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Gold awards.
- The awards demonstrate a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke.
- Mercy Southeast was among 21 Mercy hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma to receive 75 achievement awards including gold-level recognitions for stroke care, heart failure, therapy and more, with numerous additional awards at silver and bronze levels.
Mercy Hospital Southeast has received the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus and Coronary Artery Disease non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) Gold awards, demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke.
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.
“We’re honored to be recognized for the exceptional care we provide to stroke patients,” said Mary Green-Brown, Mercy Hospital Southeast stroke program coordinator. “This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our stroke team and our ongoing commitment to providing quality, evidence-based care for patients throughout the four-state region.”
Mercy Southeast was among 21 Mercy hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma to receive 75 achievement awards including gold-level recognitions for stroke care, heart failure, therapy and more, with numerous additional awards at silver and bronze levels. (See the full list of Mercy awards here.) The awards recognize Mercy hospitals in Joplin, Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Fort Smith and Rogers, Arkansas; and rural and critical access hospitals across Mercy’s service area including Mercy Perry in Perryville, Missouri.
Mercy Southeast also received the Coronary Artery Disease – Bronze Receiving Plus quality award, showing a commitment to improve care for chest pain and heart attack patients and enhancing communication within the cardiac care system. Awards also included the Target Stroke Honor Roll and Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award, which aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest science-backed guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, Mercy qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for 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. This year’s recognition is based on calendar year 2025 data.
“These awards reflect Mercy’s commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Mercy can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and healthcare systems.”
