Independence Health System nationally recognized for its commitment to excellence in cardiovascular care
- Category: Heart, Lung & Vascular Care, Leadership & Accolades, Media Release
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American Heart Association honors health system with Get With The Guidelines® awards for dedication to exceptional evidence-based, life-saving care
BUTLER, PA and GREENSBURG, PA, Aug. 11, 2026—Independence Health System has once again received multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards in recognition of its commitment to delivering evidence-based cardiovascular and stroke care. The awards recognize hospitals that consistently follow the latest research-driven guidelines to improve patient outcomes, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based 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 science-backed guidelines. As participants in the Get With The Guidelines programs, Butler Memorial, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals earned recognition for demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of cardiovascular care. Clarion Hospital was not participating in the recognition programs during the award period.
"These recognitions reflect our unwavering commitment to quality, safety and clinical excellence across Independence Health System," said Mindy Dunkerley, MBA, BSN, RN, chief quality officer of Independence Health System. "By aligning our care with the latest evidence-based guidelines, our teams are improving outcomes for patients experiencing heart attacks and strokes while advancing a culture of continuous improvement throughout our hospitals."
This year, Independence Health System received these achievement awards:
Butler Memorial Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Gold
Frick Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke Silver
Latrobe Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
Westmoreland Hospital
- Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Target: Aortic Stenosis™ Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines® – Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Silver Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure Silver Plus with Target: Heart Failure Optimal and Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll
- Commitment to Quality Award
“These awards reflect Independence Health System’s hospitals’ commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Independence Health System can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for patients, families and health care systems.”
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About Independence Health System
Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning a multi-county region.
The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.
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 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
