Baptist Health Corbin Earns National Recognition for Stroke Care Excellence

CORBIN, KY (August 5, 2025) - Baptist Health Corbin has been honored with the 2025 Stroke Gold Plus and Rural Stroke Gold awards from the American Heart Association, recognizing its exceptional commitment to stroke care excellence.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S.  A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, either by a blocked blood vessel (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). This interruption deprives brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, causing the cells to die and potentially leading to long-term permanent damage. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

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 research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With the Guidelines - Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“By adhering to these evidence-based guidelines and utilizing our advanced tele-health system, we are ensuring that Kentucky’s rural citizens have access to the same high-quality-evidence based stroke care that they would receive in larger urban areas. By helping eliminate these geographic disparities we can reduce the economic and health related impact from stroke,” stated Kevin Swanner, APRN, Baptist Health Corbin.

Baptist Health’s Stroke program includes stroke activation, tele-stroke providers available 24/7, an on-site board certified advanced neurovascular practitioner and NIHSS certified providers and nurses. “Baptist Health Corbin is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest stroke treatment guidelines.” The American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines makes it easier for our team to apply evidence-based guidelines into practice which studies show can reduce patient disability and mortality,” stated Joy Highfield, Stroke Coordinator, Baptist Health Corbin.

The hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.