JACKSONVILLE, Texas — UT Health Jacksonville has been recognized by the American Heart Association with its Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award. The hospital announced this achievement on September 1, 2026, highlighting its dedicated efforts to enhance stroke care and reduce health outcome disparities in rural areas.
The recognition comes as rural communities across the country face significant health challenges. According to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health, individuals living in rural areas live, on average, three years fewer than their urban counterparts. They also have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and confront a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality.
Stroke remains a critical health concern, identified as the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., as reported in the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, depriving brain tissue of blood and oxygen. This process leads to the death of brain cells, making early detection and rapid treatment essential for improving survival rates, minimizing disability, and supporting faster recovery.
UT Health Jacksonville's commitment to improving these outcomes for residents of Cherokee County aligns with the American Heart Association's recognition of rural hospitals' vital role. The Association acknowledges the importance of healthcare services provided in rural areas, particularly in the timely initiation of evidence-based care. All rural hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program are eligible for such awards, based on a specific methodology that evaluates early acute stroke performance metrics.
DeLeigh Haley, CEO of UT Health Jacksonville, stated the team is proud of this recognition for their daily work to improve the lives of people affected by stroke in Cherokee County, aiming to give them the best possible chance of recovery and survival. Haley acknowledged the unique challenges faced by a rural hospital, such as extended interfacility transportation times and limited staffing resources. Despite these hurdles, the hospital has prioritized ensuring that these challenges do not compromise the standard of care for stroke patients, emphasizing that rural communities deserve high-quality stroke care.
The award specifically honors hospitals for their dedication to acute stroke care excellence, demonstrated through performance on guideline-directed measures. These measures include the administration of intravenous thrombolytic therapy, ensuring timely hospital inter-facility transfers, conducting dysphagia screenings, thorough documentation of symptom timelines and deficit assessments, effective emergency medical services communication, timely brain imaging, and consultation with stroke experts.
Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, who chairs the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-authored the Association’s advisory on rural health, noted that patients and healthcare professionals in Cherokee County encounter unique healthcare challenges and opportunities. Maddox affirmed that UT Health Jacksonville has significantly advanced the crucial work of enhancing care for all Americans, regardless of their geographic location.
This recognition underscores UT Health Jacksonville’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality stroke care and improving health outcomes for the East Texas rural population.
