Press Release from Ozarks Healthcare:
WEST PLAINS, MO – Ozarks Healthcare has received three 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.
The addition of the new Cath Lab technology complements Ozarks Healthcare’s growing reputation for excellence in cardiovascular care. In addition to earning designation as a Primary Heart Attack Center by The Joint Commission, Ozarks Healthcare has also received multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards recognizing its commitment to delivering evidence-based treatment for heart attack and stroke patients. Together, these recognitions reflect the organization’s ongoing investment in providing advanced cardiac care close to home.
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, Ozarks Healthcare qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care.
“Ozarks Healthcare is committed to delivering high-quality care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely, appropriate care for heart attacks and strokes,” Terence Farrell, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “Get With The Guidelines programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, supporting better outcomes so more people in our region can live longer, healthier lives.”
This year, Ozarks Healthcare received these achievement awards:
- Get With The Guidelines®- Resuscitation Target Survival (Pediatric)
- Get With The Guidelines®- Rural Stroke Gold
- Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
“These awards reflect Ozarks Healthcare’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, Ozarks Healthcare 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.”
Ozarks Healthcare’s Heart and Lung Center is home to a comprehensive team of cardiovascular specialists dedicated to providing expert care close to home. The team includes interventional cardiologists Dr. Hussain Ibrahim and Dr. Muhammad Khan; cardiologists Dr. A.K. George, and Dr. Andrea Moyer; and nurse practitioners Emily Brown and Julie Gunter. Together, they provide a full spectrum of diagnostic, interventional, and ongoing cardiac care for patients throughout the region.
For more information about Ozarks Healthcare’s cardiology services, visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com/services/heart-care.
