LAWRENCEBURG, TN — Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Lawrenceburg has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Silver Quality Achievement Award, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to providing timely, evidence-based care to patients experiencing a stroke.
The national award honors hospitals that consistently follow research-based treatment guidelines designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce long-term disability and save lives.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clot or the rupture of a blood vessel. Without blood and oxygen, brain cells can begin to die within minutes, making early detection and rapid treatment critical.
According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report, stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and remains a leading cause of disability.
The Get With The Guidelines program brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals across the country. The initiative helps medical teams ensure stroke patients receive care that aligns with the latest clinical research and nationally recognized treatment standards.
“Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Lawrenceburg is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Rhee Perry, CEO of STRHS-Lawrenceburg. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven science into practice every day. Research shows this approach can support better recovery, with the ultimate goal of helping people in Lawrenceburg live longer, healthier lives.”
Hospitals receiving the award must demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality stroke care while consistently following established clinical treatment guidelines. Participating hospitals also provide patients and their families with education and resources to help manage recovery and ongoing health needs after leaving the hospital.
“We are proud to recognize Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Lawrenceburg for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group.
Messe said participation in the program is associated with better patient outcomes, including a greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer hospital readmissions and lower mortality rates.
The American Heart Association says those improvements provide meaningful benefits for patients, families, health care systems and the communities they serve.