Phoebe Putney Health System is proud to announce that all three of its hospitals - Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH), Phoebe Sumter Medical Center (PSMC), and Phoebe Worth Medical Center (PWMC) - have earned prestigious American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines recognitions for excellence in cardiovascular and stroke care. PPMH received the award for Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus, and PSMC and PWMC received the Rural Stroke Gold awards. These honors reflect Phoebe’s commitment to delivering rapid, evidence-based care that improves outcomes for patients experiencing life-threatening cardiac and stroke emergencies.

Each year, more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. are hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. About 30% of ACS cases are classified as STEMI, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery.

Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center highlights hospitals that provide around-the-clock support for patients experiencing STEMI. These facilities coordinate closely with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to deliver timely, guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care.

“Effective and timely care is critical for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. The American Heart Association’s guidelines outline specific interventions for these patients both during hospitalization and after discharge,” said Abhinav Goyal, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Coronary Artery Disease System of Care Advisory Group.

Each year, hospitals earn STEMI Receiving Center recognition by demonstrating a sustained commitment to treating people according to the most current, science-based guidelines for STEMI care, as outlined by the American Heart Association.

“This recognition reflects the outstanding teamwork and commitment of caregivers across our entire health system. We are incredibly proud that PPMH achieved Gold Plus STEMI Receiving Center recognition. We are also proud of PSMC and PWMC for achieving the Rural Stroke Gold recognitions. These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our physicians and team members, including emergency department staff, registration teams, cardiac catheterization laboratory personnel, and our EMS partners, who work together seamlessly to deliver lifesaving heart attack care when every minute matters,” said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System President & CEO.

The Gold Plus recognition underscores Phoebe’s commitment to ensuring heart attack patients throughout Southwest Georgia have access to timely, high-quality cardiovascular care close to home. Through close collaboration among hospitals, emergency medical services, physicians, nurses, and support staff, Phoebe continues to advance heart care and improve outcomes for patients across the region.