Baptist Hospital has earned two national awards from the American Heart Association for its high-quality treatment of heart disease and stroke, recognizing its commitment to following the latest, research-based care guidelines.

According to a news release from Baptist Health Care, the hospital received the Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline awards, which honor hospitals that consistently implement evidence-based standards shown to improve survival, speed recovery and reduce readmissions.

“Baptist Hospital is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” said Debbie Daron, R.N., BSN, MSML, executive director of nursing at Baptist Health Care. “The Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in our area experience longer, healthier lives.”

Heart disease and stroke remain the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 update. Baptist qualified for the awards by demonstrating a strong focus on clinical quality and consistent care practices that align with national protocols.

“These awards show Baptist Hospital’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of its Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Baptist Hospital can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”