Great Plains Health Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Cardiovascular Care
Great Plains Health has received six American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.
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 science-backed guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, Great Plains Health qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.
“Great Plains Health is committed to delivering high-quality care by following the latest treatment guidelines and continually improving processes that help ensure timely, appropriate care for heart attack and stroke patients,” said Ivan Mitchell, CEO of Great Plains Health. “Get With The Guidelines® programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, supporting better outcomes and helping more people in our region live longer, healthier lives.”
This year, Great Plains Health received these awards:
Stroke
Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus
Rural Coronary Artery Disease
Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS – Gold
Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI – Gold
Coronary Artery Disease
Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI – Silver with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center – Silver with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Rural Stroke
Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Bronze
“These awards reflect Great Plains Health's commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Great Plains Health can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and health care systems.”