Mission Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.

Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into 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 designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.

“Caring for people in Western North Carolina during some of the most critical moments of their lives is both a tremendous responsibility and an incredible privilege,” said Greg Lowe, President of Mission Health. “This recognition reflects the skill, teamwork and unwavering dedication of our physicians, nurses and clinical staff, who work every day to deliver exceptional stroke care when every minute counts.”

Mission Hospital also meets rigorous scientific standards as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, providing a comprehensive system for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients experiencing stroke.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to 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, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating their commitment to providing high-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.

In addition to the Gold Plus achievement award, Mission Hospital earned the American Heart Association's Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus, Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll recognitions. These awards recognize hospitals that achieve rapid treatment times for eligible stroke patients receiving clot-busting medication or advanced therapies to remove a clot, while also ensuring patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the latest evidence-based care to help improve outcomes and reduce complications following a stroke.

“We are proud to recognize Mission Hospital for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates, a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”