Penn Highlands receives awards for heart, stroke care
Penn Highlands Mon Valley has received five American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.
Penn Highlands Mon Valley earned the American Heart Association’s Stroke Gold Plus, Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold, and Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold awards.
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 4 causes of death in the United States, respectively, according to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report. Studies show patients can experience better outcomes when care teams consistently follow evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Penn Highlands Mon Valley was recognized for its commitment to ensuring people experiencing stroke receive timely, appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately helping to save lives and reduce disability. The hospital earned recognition for STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) and NSTEMI (Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) care by consistently following the latest guidelines to deliver fast, lifesaving heart care when every second counts.
“Penn Highlands Mon Valley is pleased to be recognized for our achievements in clinical excellence,” said Josh LaFleur, MBA, Regional Market President – Southwest Region for Penn Highlands Healthcare. “We are committed to delivering high-quality care by adhering to the latest guidelines to ensure timely, appropriate treatment for heart attacks and strokes.”
The hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes and Target: Stroke honor roll awards. The Target: Stroke Honor Roll recognizes hospitals that meet criteria that reduces the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy, while the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll designation recognizes hospitals that ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, and who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
“These awards show Penn Highlands Mon Valley’s commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Penn Highlands Mon Valley can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”