JOPLIN, Mo. – Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the country, and Freeman Health System was recognized in doing its part to reverse that trend with the prestigious Get with the Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Award for improving patient care and ultimately saving lives.

Provided by American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, the award recognizes Freeman’s commitment to providing excellent care for its stroke patients according to evidence-based guidelines.

“Every minute truly does count,” said Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker. “Our goal will be to provide the highest amount of care in the least amount of time.”

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain through an artery is blocked or reduced. As a result, key brain cells die. Stroke survivors often experience paralysis, slurred speech and vision loss. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds while someone dies from a stroke every four minutes. In all, 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery time.

“This award exemplifies the wonderful stroke team we have at Freeman Health System with smooth interprofessional teamwork, strong administrative support and great work environment which ultimately leads to excellent patient care,” said Freeman Neurologist Dr. Gulshan Uppal.

Every patient deserves access to high-quality heart and stroke care, regardless of where they live. Freeman earned the 2024 award for consistently following up-to-date, research-based treatment guidelines for cardiovascular disease, with measures ranging from the proper use of medications to receiving education on managing their health before discharge.