Memorial Hospital Stone County Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Rural Stroke Care
WIGGINS, Miss. September 1, 2026– Memorial Hospital Stone County has received national recognition from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Program, earning the program’s Gold Recognition award for its commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based stroke care to patients in rural communities.
This achievement highlights the hospital’s dedication to improving stroke outcomes through adherence to nationally recognized clinical guidelines and quality measures designed specifically to address the unique challenges of rural healthcare delivery.
The Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Rural Recognition Program honors rural hospitals that demonstrate success in implementing timely, evidence-based treatment strategies that improve patient care and outcomes for stroke patients. Memorial Hospital Stone County’s Gold Recognition builds upon the hospital’s previous accomplishments, including earning Silver Recognition and Acute Stroke Ready certification.
“Receiving this national recognition reflects the commitment of our physicians, nurses, EMS partners and clinical staff to providing exceptional stroke care for our community,” said Kevin Holland, Vice President, Operations. “When a patient experiences a stroke, every minute matters. Our team works diligently to ensure rapid assessment, treatment and coordination of care so patients receive the best possible outcomes close to home.”
The American Heart Association evaluates participating hospitals on several key performance measures that are critical to successful stroke treatment, including:
- Rapid stroke identification and timely brain imaging
- Guideline-directed administration of intravenous thrombolytic therapy when appropriate
- Timely and safe inter-facility patient transfers
- Comprehensive stroke assessments and accurate documentation of symptom onset
- Effective communication with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and prompt access to stroke specialists through consultation and telestroke services
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and remains a major cause of death in the United States. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to improving survival rates and reducing disability caused by stroke.
As part of Memorial Health System, Memorial Hospital Stone County remains committed to advancing healthcare quality and expanding access to lifesaving services for residents throughout Stone County and surrounding rural communities.
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ABOUT MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Memorial Health System has been serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1946. Located in Gulfport, Mississippi, Memorial is a not-for-profit public community hospital organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and is jointly owned by the City of Gulfport and Harrison County. Memorial Health System includes three hospitals (Gulfport, Biloxi, and Stone County) licensed for 481 beds, a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, two nursing centers, outpatient surgery centers, satellite outpatient diagnostic and rehabilitation centers, and more than 100 Memorial Physician Clinics. Memorial offers several of the region’s most comprehensive clinical programs and medical specialties unique to the area, including a Level III Neonatal ICU and Mississippi’s first nationally certified Primary Stroke Center. Memorial is accredited by The Joint Commission, a Baby-Friendly Designated hospital, and is a member of the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative. Visit wearememorial.com to learn more.
ABOUT GET WITH THE GUIDELINES®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 18 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.