SIH Hospitals Earn National Stroke Care Award

CARBONDALE, IL. — SIH Herrin Hospital and SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale have earned national recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for their commitment to fast, evidence-based stroke treatment that leads to better outcomes for patients. Both hospitals received the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll award, a distinction that reflects dedication to consistent, high-quality care that can reduce death and disability from stroke.

To qualify, hospitals must meet strict standards designed to shorten the time between a stroke patient’s arrival and the start of life-saving treatment, such as clot-busting medication.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of long-term disability. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a vessel bursts, cutting off oxygen and nutrients. Prompt treatment is critical.

“Rapid treatment truly changes what recovery looks like for stroke patients,” said Andrea Loggini, MD, neurointensivist and neuroscience inpatient medical director at SIH. “This recognition reflects how consistently our teams follow national guidelines and, just as importantly, how well they work together to deliver time-sensitive treatment that can help patients regain speech, movement and independence.”

The Get With The Guidelines® program helps hospitals align care with the most up-to-date research. It promotes early detection and standardized treatment that can limit long-term damage and speed up recovery.

“For stroke care, every minute matters,” Dr. Loggini said. “From the moment a patient arrives in the Emergency Department, there is a coordinated response involving emergency physicians, nurses, imaging teams and the neuroscience team. That shared focus allows us to move quickly, reduce delays and give patients the best possible chance for recovery.”

That coordination begins even before a patient arrives at the hospital.

“This recognition is a direct reflection of teamwork. Not just in the Emergency Department, but starting with emergency medical services (EMS) in the field,” said Jonatan Hornik, MD, SIH neurointensivist. “Early identification, rapid communication and seamless handoff between EMS and our ED teams set everything in motion. Stroke care succeeds when every link in the chain works together with urgency and precision.”

Dr. Hornik added that the Target: Stroke Honor Roll distinction highlights how collaboration supports speed without compromising safety.

“When EMS, emergency clinicians, radiology and neuroscience teams are aligned, we can move efficiently while maintaining high standards of care,” he said. “That collective effort is what allows patients to receive timely treatment and what ultimately drives better outcomes.”

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize SIH Herrin Hospital and SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for their commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, MD, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”