Grace Cottage has received two major recognitions from the American Heart Association for its commitment to providing high-quality healthcare in a rural setting, underscoring the organization’s continued focus on improving patient outcomes and experiences.
The hospital recently earned the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Bronze Award, which recognizes hospitals that work to improve stroke care and address healthcare disparities in rural communities. The Bronze Award represents the highest recognition level available to Grace Cottage during its initial participation in the program.
According to the American Heart Association, residents of rural areas are 40% more likely to develop heart disease and face a 30% higher risk of dying from a stroke. Grace Cottage’s recognition reflects its efforts to enhance stroke treatment and reduce those risks for patients in the communities it serves.
In addition to its stroke-care recognition, Grace Cottage Hospital achieved Silver Status in the American Heart Association’s STEMI Achievement Award Program. The designation acknowledges the hospital’s success in delivering timely and effective treatment for patients experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most severe and potentially fatal type of heart attack.
The hospital’s providers earned the distinction by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in meeting national standards for heart attack care and response.
“These recognitions mean a great deal to me because they represent the dedication, teamwork, and commitment our Emergency Department brings to every patient, every day,” said Keanna Cook, Grace Cottage’s Emergency Nursing Director. “In a rural hospital, minutes matter during a stroke or heart attack, and our team works tirelessly to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care from the moment they arrive. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, which reflects our promise to our community that they can trust us to provide exceptional emergency care when they need it most.”
