Central Carolina Hospital has been awarded the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Rural Recognition Gold Award. This award acknowledges the hospital’s continuous efforts to reduce healthcare outcome disparities in rural areas and enhance stroke care.
This marks the third consecutive year that Central Carolina Hospital (CCH) has received recognition for its rural stroke care. The hospital previously earned the Bronze Award in 2023 and the Silver Award in 2024 from the same association.
“Patients and healthcare professionals in Lee County face unique healthcare challenges and opportunities,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, co-author of the American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. “Central Carolina Hospital has furthered this important work to improve care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”
Statistics indicate that individuals residing in rural communities have an average life expectancy three years shorter than those in urban areas. They also face a 40 percent higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30 percent increased risk for stroke mortality — disparities that have widened over the past twenty years.
“Central Carolina Hospital is committed to changing that,” said Dave Santoemma, CEO of CCH. “As a hospital in a rural community, we have made it our goal to make sure that we provide a high standard of care for stroke patients, regardless of rural challenges and barriers to access care.”
The AHA recognizes the critical role played by rural hospitals in providing timely evidence-based care to people living in these areas. Hospitals participating in their Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program are evaluated based on early acute stroke performance metrics, with awards given for excellence demonstrated by compliance with guideline-directed care.
“Rural communities deserve high quality stroke care,” said Connette Gill, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at CCH. “I’m proud of our team for their commitment to stroke care excellence and this achievement.”
