The American Heart Association awards Glenwood Regional with the Get with the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and lifesaving care

West Monroe, Louisiana– Glenwood Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Stroke GoldPlus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times.

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 research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“We are immensely proud to receive the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus award for stroke care,” said Cheryl Faulkenberry, Director of Quality Management. “This recognition underscores Glenwood’s unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of care to our patients. Achieving this award means that our team consistently meets rigorous guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ensuring that every patient in our community receives timely and effective care. Our dedication to these standards significantly improves patient outcomes, helping more individuals recover and thrive after a stroke.”

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Glenwood Regional Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group and professor of neurology and director of fellowships of neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Sandy Goss, Director of Emergency Services, emphasized the collaborative effort of her team in achieving this recognition: “Receiving this award is a testament to the exceptional dedication and skill of the ED team and all of Glenwood Regional Medical Center. Our doctors, nurses, and support staff here at Glenwood provide the highest quality care to every patient who comes through our doors. This award reflects the excellence of our emergency response and treatment protocols, ensuring that patients experiencing stroke receive immediate and effective care. It is an honor to see our team’s hard work and commitment to patient care recognized in such a significant way.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home. 

Glenwood also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes 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.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

About Glenwood Regional Medical Center

Glenwood is a critical hospital in Northeast Louisiana’s health care delivery system, with over 600 team members and medical staff dedicated to providing safe, high-quality patient care. Recently, Glenwood received a Quality Improvement award from the Louisiana Hospital Association, highlighting its achievements in targeted improvements related to Preventable Harm, Anticoagulation Safety, Hypoglycemic Management, Infection Rates, Mortality, and Readmissions.

Glenwood Regional Medical Center, a 278-bed, state-of-the-art hospital located in West Monroe, Louisiana remains committed to providing patients and their physicians access to the latest medical breakthroughs and innovations in heart and vascular care. Our comprehensive health care services include emergency care, heart care, advanced surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, therapy services, and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. Equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by highly skilled health care professionals, Glenwood is dedicated to delivering high-quality care in a welcoming and friendly hospital environment.

For more information, visit www.glenwood.org