St. Mary’s Health Care System’s hospitals in Athens, Lavonia and Greensboro have received five American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines^® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke and heart attack, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death and stroke is the No. 1 cause of adult disability and the No. 5 cause of death in the United States, 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, the hospitals of St. Mary’s Health Care System qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.

“Our entire St. Mary’s ministry is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper stroke and heart attack care,” said Stonish Pierce, President and CEO of Trinity Health Georgia, which includes all three hospitals. “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 the communities we serve experience longer, healthier lives.”

Get with the Guidelines stroke awards are based on how quickly patients with stroke symptoms receive care, especially time-sensitive treatment with clot-busting medications that can restore blood flow to affected areas of the brain. The cardiac resuscitation award is based on fast, effective treatment for patients experiencing a heart attack while in the hospital.

Here are the 2025 Get With the Guidelines awards and honor roll achievements for the hospitals in St. Mary’s regional ministry: