USA Health Providence nationally recognized with stroke care achievement award
“This award brings national attention to USA Health Providence as a leader in patient-centered care and reinforces that our community can count on us — not just in times of crisis, but in the everyday work of building healthier lives,” said Libby Turnipseed Callan, RN, DNP, accreditation, and stroke manager at Providence Hospital.
By Michelle Ryan-Day
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USA Health Providence Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s 2025 Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
“Being honored with the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Silver Plus award, along with the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll distinctions from the American Heart Association, is a powerful affirmation of USA Health Providence Hospital’s ongoing commitment to clinical excellence,” said Libby Turnipseed Callan, RN, DNP, accreditation and stroke manager for Providence. “It reflects the hard work, skill, and dedication of our care teams who deliver high-quality, evidence-based treatment — especially in critical moments when seconds count.”
The Stroke Silver Plus Award requires hospitals to obtain 85% or higher adherence on all achievement measures applicable, as well as 75% or higher adherence with additional select quality measures in stroke, in the last calendar year.
“This is not the first time our hospital has received this recognition, and each time it affirms our consistency in exceeding national standards in stroke care,” Callan said. “The Silver Plus designation recognizes sustained performance in stroke treatment, while the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award confirms our ability to deliver fast, effective care that improves survival and recovery. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll distinction highlights our integrated approach to treating patients with diabetes, a key risk factor for stroke.”
How strokes happen
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke, and it is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, disability and accelerating recovery times.
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 research and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and potentially prevent death.
“This award is not just about what happens within our walls — it’s about the impact we have on our community,” Callan said. “For those we serve, this recognition means access to lifesaving stroke care without leaving the region; better health outcomes for loved ones; fewer complications and faster recoveries from stroke and related conditions.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment protocols, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“These awards show USA Health Providence Hospital’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Providence 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.”
USA Health Providence Hospital is recognized by the Alabama Department of Public Health as a level III trauma center with the ability to provide high-quality trauma care in a timely manner. Additionally, the facility has received high marks from U.S. News & World Report and the American College of Cardiology for its cardiac care.
