Cox Barton County Hospital’s Level III Stroke Center is saving lives

Cox Barton, a 25-bed critical access hospital, has earned its first Get With The Guidelines® Rural Hospital Silver Stroke Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for demonstrating a commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most up-to-date and appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

The award recognizes rural 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.

“Since establishing the stroke program, I never anticipated the tremendous success and the remarkable patient outcomes we would achieve,” says Dr. Jeremy Sturgell, medical director of the Cox Barton ER and the hospital’s Time Critical Diagnosis program. “I commend our team for their collaborative, multidisciplinary approach and strict adherence to the latest evidence and treatment-based guidelines. This ensures timely and appropriate care, giving our patients the best possible opportunities for recovery and survival.”

Cox Barton achieved Level III Stroke Center certification in 2022.

Along with Cox Barton County Hospital, both Cox Medical Center South and Cox Monett Hospital, as well as Cox Medical Center Branson, have all been honored with Get With The Guidelines awards.