Wabash General Hospital Earns Three American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Achievement Awards

WGH receives first-ever Gold recognition and earns the highest possible award levels in its recent participation in two cardiac care programs.

MOUNT CARMEL, IL, Wabash General Hospital has received three 2026 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards, recognizing the hospital's commitment to delivering evidence-based cardiovascular and stroke care and improving patient outcomes through adherence to nationally recognized treatment guidelines.

The hospital earned:

• Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Gold Achievement Award

• Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Silver Achievement Award

• Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center Bronze Achievement Award

This marks a significant milestone for Wabash General Hospital, which received its first-ever Gold designation through the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program. While the Stroke Gold award reflects sustained excellence in delivering evidencebased stroke care, the Silver and Bronze recognitions represent the highest award levels available based on Wabash General Hospital's recent participation in those cardiac care programs.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, while stroke ranks among the leading causes of death and disability. Research consistently shows that patients experience better outcomes when health care providers 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 aligns with the latest science-backed guidelines. By participating in these quality improvement programs, Wabash General Hospital demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving care for patients throughout southeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.

Jeana Trimble, Director of the Emergency Department at Wabash General Hospital, stated, “This achievement reflects an elevated level of care for patients in our area, ensuring faster access to time-sensitive treatments and increased delivery of evidence-based care. Together, these improvements lead to better patient outcomes, enhanced patient safety, and a higher standard of health care for our community.”

The awards recognize the collaborative efforts of physicians, nurses, emergency medical services partners, and clinical support staff who work together to ensure patients experiencing stroke and cardiac emergencies receive timely, appropriate care.

“These awards reflect Wabash General Hospital's commitment to caring for patients in our community who need cardiovascular and stroke care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee, in the Association's award announcement materials. “By following the American Heart Association's quality improvement protocols, organizations 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.”

For Wabash General Hospital, the recognitions demonstrate the organization's dedication to bringing nationally recognized quality standards to a rural health care setting and ensuring local residents have access to high-quality care close to home.

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.