Tennova LaFollette Medical Center Nationally Recognized for Commitment to Excellence in Stroke Care
7/15/2026
LaFollette Medical Center has received two American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke quality achievement awards for their commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures, preventing blood and oxygen from reaching brain tissue. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. Early detection and rapid treatment are critical to improving survival, minimizing disability and supporting faster recovery.
Get With The Guidelines brings the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association into hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize long-term effects of stroke and help prevent death.
“We are proud that our team at LaFollette Medical Center is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in East Tennessee who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Mark Cain, Tennova LaFollette Medical Center CEO. “Rural communities deserve high-quality stroke care. I'm proud of our team’s commitment to stroke care excellence and this achievement.”
This year, LaFollette Medical Center received these achievement awards:
- Stroke - Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite
- Rural Stroke - Silver
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award 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.
“Patients and health care professionals in East Tennessee face unique health care challenges and opportunities,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and co-author on the Association’s advisory on rural health. “ Tennova LaFollette Medical Center has advanced the important work of improving care for all Americans, regardless of where they live.”
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