Third Consecutive Gold Plus Award Reflects Teamwide Commitment to High-Quality, Lifesaving Care
(UCBJ) – Cookeville Regional Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping save lives and reducing disability.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, 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.
Randi Stafford, stroke coordinator, said the recognition reflects the hospital’s commitment to delivering exceptional care.
“We are thrilled to celebrate CRMC’s recognition as a recipient of the 2026 Stroke Gold Plus Award! This outstanding achievement reflects our team’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional stroke care and delivering the highest quality outcomes for our patients. It is a testament to the incredible collaboration between our providers, nurses, emergency services, multidisciplinary teams and support staff, whose dedication and teamwork make a difference every day. This award honors the hard work, expertise and compassion of everyone involved in our stroke program, and we are proud to continue raising the standard of care for the communities we serve.”
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. The in-hospital program is designed to improve stroke care through consistent adherence to these guidelines, helping minimize the long-term effects of stroke and reduce mortality.
Each year, participating hospitals qualify for the award by demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality stroke care. In addition to following clinical treatment guidelines, Get With the guidelines participants also provide education to help patients manage their recovery and ongoing health at home.
“We are proud to recognize Cookeville Regional Medical Center for its commitment to caring for people experiencing stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, including greater likelihood of being discharged home, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a meaningful benefit for health care systems, families and communities.”
This marks the third consecutive year Cookeville Regional Medical Center has earned the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, underscoring its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of stroke care.
Hospital officials said the recognition reflects the performance, dedication and clinical expertise of CRMC employees who continue to provide exceptional care to the communities they serve.
Photo courtesy of CRMC. Pictured, from l. to r.: Dr. Benjamin Groves- Neurology; Dr. Mark Tedford- Stroke Program Medical Director, Neurology; Heather Swallows – ICU/CVICU Director; Randi Stafford – Stroke Coordinator; Laura Kee – Neurology Stepdown Director; Nicole Micklash Connolly- RN, Neurology Stepdown
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