Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus and Phoebe Worth Medical Center in Sylvester have both earned the 2025 Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke SILVER Achievement Award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. This marks the first time Phoebe Sumter earned the stroke care recognition and the first time Phoebe Worth reached this level after receiving the BRONZE award in 2024.

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, recognizes the importance of healthcare services provided to people living in rural areas. Rural hospitals like Phoebe Sumter and Phoebe Worth play a vital role in initiation of timely evidence-based care. For that reason, all rural hospitals participating in Get With The Guidelines - Stroke are eligible to receive award recognition based on a unique methodology focused on early acute stroke performance metrics.

“We are proud of the exceptional work being done at our rural campuses. This award reflects our team’s commitment to advancing stroke care for patients throughout southwest Georgia and getting them to the specialized care they may need as quickly as possible,” said Dianna Grant, MD, Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Medical Officer.

This prestigious recognition highlights the continued dedication of both hospitals in delivering high-quality stroke care to rural communities. By consistently applying the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatment guidelines, Phoebe Sumter and Phoebe Worth are improving outcomes and quality of life for stroke patients.

 “We are excited that our Phoebe Sumter team is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in and around Sumter County who are affected by strokes. We want to ensure a high standard of care for every stroke patient and give them the best possible chance of survival and recovery," said Carlyle Walton, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center President. 

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are committed to ensuring our patients here in Worth County have access to lifesaving stroke care that meets the highest standards. Our community can be confident they are receiving top-tier treatment, right here at home,” said Kim Gilman, Phoebe Worth Medical Center President.

The Get With The Guidelines® program helps ensure that hospitals provide the most effective stroke care aligned with the latest clinical guidelines. The SILVER level achievement indicates sustained success in key performance measures over 12 consecutive months.

The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward acute stroke care excellence demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging and stroke expert consultation.

Phoebe continues to lead the region in building a healthier future by ensuring all its hospitals, large and small, meet high standards of care.