Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Stroke Care

7/16/2026

The American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines® awards for proven dedication to best practices, life-saving care

POPLAR BLUFF, MO, July 16, 2026 — Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center (PBRMC) has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to following the latest, evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of strokes. These efforts help improve patient outcomes, support recovery, and reduce hospital readmissions.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, ranking fourth, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Stroke Statistics Report. Research shows that patients experience better outcomes when healthcare teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment protocols.

Disparities in rural health outcomes further underscore the importance of this work. According to an American Heart Association presidential advisory on rural health, individuals living in rural communities have a life expectancy approximately three years shorter than those in urban areas. They also face a 30% increased risk of stroke-related mortality. PBRMC is committed to addressing these disparities by delivering high-quality, exceptional care to the communities it serves.

The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines programs support hospitals nationwide by providing tools and resources to align patient care with the most current scientific guidelines. As a participant, PBRMC has demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving stroke care, earning recognition for its performance.

“PBRMC 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,” said Kim Shackleford, accreditation coordinator for stroke, chest pain and cath lab programs at PBRMC. “Get With The Guidelines programs help our teams put proven science into practice every day, supporting better outcomes so more people in Southeast Missouri can live longer, healthier lives.”

PBRMC received the following achievement awards:

• Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
  This recognition highlights the hospital’s commitment to ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes—who are at higher risk for complications—receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized for stroke.
• Get With The Guidelines®–Rural Stroke Bronze
  This award recognizes PBRMC’s adherence to specific scientific guidelines and its established system for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients in the emergency department.

“These awards reflect PBRMC’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, PBRMC is helping advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates—a win for patients, families, and health care systems.”

About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

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