PERRYVILLE, Mo. (July 31, 2026) – Mercy Hospital Perry has received the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Gold Plus achievement award, demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in the United States, 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.
“We are grateful to earn recognition for the care we provide our stroke patients,” said Emily Hinkebein, emergency department nurse manager. “This award just highlights our stroke team’s commitment to supporting the needs of our rural communities by delivering quality, evidence-based care to our patients across Perry County.”
Mercy Perry was among 21 Mercy hospitals in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma to receive 75 achievement awards including gold-level recognitions for stroke care, heart failure, therapy and more, with numerous additional awards at silver and bronze levels. (See the full list of Mercy awards here.) The awards recognize Mercy hospitals in Cape Girardeau, Joplin, Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Fort Smith and Rogers, Arkansas; and rural and critical access hospitals across Mercy’s service area.
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, Mercy qualified for the awards by demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care. This year’s recognition is based on calendar year 2025.
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing 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.
“These awards reflect Mercy’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, Mercy can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and healthcare systems.”