Horizon Health Achieves Excellence in Cardiovascular, Stroke Care

Horizon Health has joined an elite group of US hospitals for excellence in cardiovascular and stroke care.

The Paris, Illinois, hospital is one of only 158 sites in the nation to receive the American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 Commitment to Quality Award (Video). This new award honors recipients for their high performance across multiple clinical areas in the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines program, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to quality improvement.

In addition to the Commitment to Quality Award, Horizon Health received seven other excellence awards for its inpatient care, ambulance service, emergency department, laboratory services, radiology services, and quality program.

“This further validates that we are doing amazing things here,” said Jay Carmichael, Horizon Health president & CEO. “It also reflects the tireless work and dedication of our staff to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. You don’t have to leave Paris, Illinois, to get high-quality care; you can get it right here.”

Get With The Guidelines is a voluntary, quality improvement initiative that helps hospitals enhance patient care and outcomes in the communities they serve using the latest research-based treatment guidelines.

“We will build on this success by expanding our quality initiatives, reinforcing staff education, and celebrating every win, large or small, as part of our journey of continuous excellence,” said Rachel Kelley, vice president of nursing & chief nursing officer. “Our commitment remains the same – every patient, every day, deserves our very best.”

Hospitals receiving the Commitment to Quality Award reached achievement level in three or more Get With The Guidelines modules using 2024 data. For Horizon Health, the three modules were heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Separate awards within each of these modules are outlined below.

(Note: Non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) refers to patients experiencing unstable chest pain. ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) refers to patients experiencing a very severe and dangerous type of heart attack.)

Heart Failure (Video)

The Silver Award is the highest achievement an organization can receive as a first-time participant in the program even though it meets Gold Award criteria.

• Rural Heart Failure (Silver Award)

Coronary Artery Disease (Video)

The Silver Award is the highest achievement an organization can receive as a first-time participant in the program even though it meets Gold Award criteria.

• Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS (Silver Award)
• Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring (Bronze Plus Award)
• Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI (Silver Award)

Stroke (Video)

• Rural Stroke (Gold Award)
• Stroke (Silver Plus Award)

Horizon Health Emergency Medical Services also received the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline EMS (Gold Award), which is separate from the Get With The Guidelines program. (Video)

“The initial work we do for patients who require a higher level of care can be a difference-maker in the outcome,” said Samantha McCarty, Horizon Health director of emergency services. “These awards, and the programs that support them, acknowledge that and celebrate those successes.”

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 expediting the healing process, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001.