WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital Earns Two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Achievement Awards
For Immediate Release
July 13, 2026
WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital Earns Two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines®
Achievement Awards
BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital has received two prestigious 2026 American
Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® Achievement Awards in recognition of its commitment to providing
high-quality, evidence-based cardiovascular care.
The hospital earned the following national recognitions:
• Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Heart Failure GOLD Achievement Award
• Get With The Guidelines® – Rural Coronary Artery Disease NSTE-ACS SILVER
Achievement Award
These awards recognize hospitals that consistently follow the latest, research-based treatment guidelines to
improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions and ensure patients receive the highest standard of
cardiovascular care.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and following evidence-based clinical
guidelines has been shown to improve recovery and save lives. Through participation in the American Heart
Association's Get With The Guidelines® quality improvement program, WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital
demonstrates its ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible care to patients in the communities it serves.
"These awards reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses, clinical staff and support teams who work together
every day to provide exceptional cardiovascular care," said John Forester, Interim President and CEO of WVU
Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital. "We're proud to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our
commitment to quality, safety and continuously improving patient outcomes. This recognition reinforces our
mission to bring advanced, evidence-based care to the patients and families we serve throughout our region."
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association's hospital-based quality improvement program
designed to ensure patient care is aligned with the latest scientific research and nationally recognized treatment
guidelines. Hospitals earning these awards have demonstrated sustained success in implementing these
evidence-based practices, resulting in improved outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease.
"These awards reflect WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital's commitment to caring for people in our community
who need cardiovascular care," said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association
Quality Oversight Committee. "By following the American Heart Association's quality improvement protocols,
WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital is helping advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer
readmissions and lower mortality rates—a win for patients, families and the entire health care system."
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association's hospital-based quality improvement program that
helps ensure patient care aligns with the latest evidence-based treatment guidelines. Developed to improve
outcomes and save lives, the program has positively impacted more than 18 million patients nationwide since its
inception.
–WVU MEDICINE–
Media Inquiries: Matthew Scott, Public Relations/Marketing 304-473-2138 [email protected]
Pictured are clinical inpatient staff, cardiology staff and quality & administration from St. Joseph’s Hospital.