Holton Community Hospital Receives Three American Heart Association Silver Recognitions for Rural Care
HOLTON, Kan. — June 30, 2026 — Holton Community Hospital has received three Silver recognitions from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program, reflecting the hospital’s continued commitment to evidence-based care, quality improvement and improved outcomes for patients in the rural communities it serves.
Holton Community Hospital received the following 2026 recognitions:
- Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Stroke – SILVER
- Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS – SILVER
- Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Heart Failure – SILVER
These recognitions highlight HCH’s use of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® program to support consistent, evidence-based treatment for patients experiencing stroke, coronary artery disease and heart failure.
“This recognition is a meaningful reflection of the work our team does every day to provide safe, timely and evidence-based care close to home,” said Carrie Lutz, CEO of Holton Community Hospital. “For a rural hospital, quality care depends on preparation, teamwork and a commitment to following proven guidelines. We are proud of our staff, providers and clinical teams for their ongoing dedication to improving care for our patients and community.”
Get With The Guidelines® is a hospital-based quality improvement program developed by the American Heart Association to help care teams apply the most current research-based treatment guidelines. The program supports hospitals through evidence-based measures, data collection and performance improvement tools designed to help improve patient care.
The Rural Stroke, Rural Coronary Artery Disease and Rural Heart Failure recognitions are especially meaningful for hospitals serving rural communities, where timely access to emergency and specialty care can be affected by geography, transportation, transfer coordination and other rural healthcare challenges.
“At Holton Community Hospital, we understand how important it is for patients to receive quality care as close to home as possible,” Lutz said. “These recognitions show the value of having strong systems, trained teams and evidence-based processes in place when patients and families need us.”
The Rural Stroke SILVER recognition reflects HCH’s continued work to support stroke care using evidence-based guidelines and quality measures. Stroke symptoms are a medical emergency, and anyone experiencing signs of stroke should call 911 immediately.
The Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Silver recognition reflects HCH’s commitment to care processes for patients with certain types of acute coronary syndrome, including non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. These conditions require timely evaluation, clinical coordination and evidence-based treatment decisions.
The Rural Heart Failure Silver recognition reflects HCH’s ongoing commitment to supporting patients with heart failure through guideline-based care and quality improvement practices.
“This award represents much more than certificates,” said Brigette Cowan, Chief Nursing Officer. “It reflects the coordination, clinical decision-making, documentation and teamwork that happen across our hospital. Every step matters when caring for patients with serious heart and stroke conditions, and these recognitions reinforce the importance of following evidence-based guidelines that support better care.”
As a nonprofit Critical Access Hospital, Holton Community Hospital remains committed to strengthening access to quality healthcare for Jackson County and surrounding communities. Participation in quality improvement programs such as Get With The Guidelines® supports that mission by giving rural healthcare teams tools to measure performance, improve processes and continue advancing patient care.
“We are grateful to the American Heart Association for these recognitions,” Lutz said. “Most importantly, we are grateful to our employees, providers and medical staff, whose dedication makes achievements like this possible.”
For more information about Holton Community Hospital, visit holtonhospital.com.
About Holton Community Hospital
Holton Community Hospital is a nonprofit Critical Access Hospital serving Jackson County and surrounding communities. With a mission rooted in personalized care and hometown heart, HCH provides emergency care, inpatient and outpatient services, family medicine, specialty care, diagnostic services, rehabilitation, surgery and community health programs close to home.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program designed to help hospitals follow current research-based guidelines for cardiovascular and stroke care. Through participation in the program, hospitals use evidence-based measures, data and quality improvement tools to support consistent, high-quality care. Learn more about Get with the Guidelines HERE.
Director of Marketing & Recruitment
Holton Community Hospital
785-364-9660
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FAQ’s
What American Heart Association recognitions did Holton Community Hospital receive?
Holton Community Hospital received three American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Rural Silver recognitions: Rural Stroke Silver, Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Silver and Rural Heart Failure Silver.
What is Get With The Guidelines®?
Get With The Guidelines® is a hospital-based quality improvement program from the American Heart Association that helps hospitals use evidence-based guidelines, data and performance improvement tools to support patient care.
What does Rural Stroke Silver recognition mean?
Rural Stroke Silver recognition reflects Holton Community Hospital’s continued commitment to using evidence-based stroke care guidelines and quality improvement practices in a rural hospital setting.
What does Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Silver recognition mean?
Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS Silver recognition reflects HCH’s commitment to care processes for patients with certain types of acute coronary syndrome, including non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.
What does Rural Heart Failure Silver recognition mean?
Rural Heart Failure Silver recognition reflects HCH’s ongoing commitment to supporting patients with heart failure through guideline-based care and quality improvement practices.
Why is rural heart and stroke care recognition important?
Rural hospitals play an important role in providing timely evaluation, treatment and coordination close to home. Recognitions like these reflect a hospital’s commitment to preparation, teamwork and evidence-based care processes.
Does this replace the need to call 911 for stroke or heart attack symptoms?
No. Stroke and heart attack symptoms are medical emergencies. Anyone experiencing signs of stroke, chest pain, shortness of breath or other serious symptoms should call 911 immediately.
