Tyler, Texas (July 25, 2025) — UT Health East Texas has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association 2025 Statistical Update. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow 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 is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, several UT Health East Texas hospitals qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.
“At UT Health East Texas, we are unwavering in our commitment to delivering exceptional, evidence-based care. By aligning with the most current clinical guidelines and optimizing our care pathways, we ensure that patients experiencing heart attacks or strokes receive the timely, high-quality treatment they deserve,” said Donald Baker, Regional President of UT Health East Texas. “The Get With The Guidelines initiative empowers our teams to consistently translate best practices into everyday care — helping us extend and enhance the lives of those we serve across East Texas.”
This year, UT Health East Texas received the following achievement awards:
- Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke – Silver
- UT Health Carthage
- Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke – Gold
- UT Health Henderson
- UT Health Jacksonville
- UT Health Quitman
- Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure
- UT Health Tyler
- Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke
- UT Health Tyler
“These awards show UT Health East Texas’ 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 the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, UT Health East Texas can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
About UT Health East Texas
UT Health East Texas provides care to thousands of patients each year through an extensive regional network that includes nine hospitals, more than 90 clinics, the Olympic Plaza Tower, 13 regional rehabilitation facilities, two freestanding emergency centers, regional home health services, an EMS fleet of more than 65 ambulances and four helicopters, and a comprehensive eight-trauma center care network, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma facility.
As a partner with The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to leading-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals. The nationally recognized UT System also includes The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, as well as three other major university medical centers located throughout the state.
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 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
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