Jacksonville, Texas – UT Health Jacksonville has been awarded the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award. The hospital received this recognition on September 1, 2026, for its dedicated efforts to enhance stroke care and reduce existing gaps in health outcomes for people in rural areas, particularly within Cherokee County.
Stroke remains a significant health concern in the United States, identified as the fourth leading cause of death and a primary cause of disability, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. For residents of rural communities, the risks are particularly pronounced; an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health indicates these populations face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality and a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease compared to their urban counterparts. UT Health Jacksonville CEO DeLeigh Haley affirmed the hospital's commitment to changing these statistics for the local community.
The American Heart Association created the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Recognition program to acknowledge the vital role rural hospitals play in initiating timely, evidence-based care for stroke patients. Hospitals participating in the program are eligible for awards based on specific acute stroke performance metrics. UT Health Jacksonville’s gold recognition reflects its strong performance on these guideline-directed measures, which include the rapid administration of intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfers, comprehensive dysphagia screening, thorough documentation of symptom timelines and deficit assessments, effective emergency medical services communication, prompt brain imaging, and expert stroke consultations.
DeLeigh Haley expressed pride in her team's work, highlighting their daily efforts to improve the lives of individuals in Cherokee County affected by stroke, thereby offering them the best possible chance of recovery and survival. Haley acknowledged the unique challenges inherent to rural healthcare, such as "extended interfacility transportation times and limited staffing resources," but stressed that these obstacles do not compromise the standard of care provided to stroke patients. She emphasized that rural communities are entitled to high-quality stroke care.
Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and a co-author of the Association’s advisory on rural health, also commented on the recognition. Maddox noted the distinct healthcare challenges and opportunities faced by patients and healthcare professionals in Cherokee County. She commended UT Health Jacksonville for advancing the critical work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of their geographic location.
This award underscores UT Health Jacksonville’s ongoing commitment to acute stroke care excellence and its dedication to serving the residents of Cherokee County, ensuring that critical, timely care is accessible for all.
