NHHS receives gold for stroke care
American Heart Association award honors rural hospitals
NEWPORT — For efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural health care outcome disparities, Newport Hospital and Health Services (NHHS) has received the American Heart Association’s Stroke Rural Recognition Gold award.
The award recognizes hospitals for their efforts toward a series of quality achievement standards called Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke. This American Heart Association program is based on a unique methodology focused on early acute stroke performance metrics.
“We’re excited to be receiving this award because a quick response to stroke symptoms is incredibly important,” said Dr. Aaron Petersen, who has worked in Newport Community Hospital’s Emergency Department since 2017. “Prompt intervention allows us to restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible. That is when we will have our best outcomes.”
This timely, nearby assistance is key to reversing troubling statistical trends. According to an American Heart Association report, people who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts. Rural residents also have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality — a gap that has grown over the past two decades.
“Rural communities deserve high-quality stroke care,” NHHS CEO Kim Manus said. “I’m proud our team is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people who are affected by stroke. By following best practices, we give stroke victims the best possible chance of recovery and survival.”
The honor marks the second “gold” distinction NHHS has received in as many months. In late June, NHHS was honored by the Washington State Hospital Association as a 2025 recipient of the Critical Access Hospital Achievement of Quality Excellence. In addition, NHHS received recognition from Get With The Guidelines in two other categories: Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI (Silver) and Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring (Bronze Plus).
About Newport Hospital and Health Services
Newport Hospital and Health Services is owned and operated by Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District #1 and was originally established in 1921. Located in Newport, Wash., the District is dedicated to serving the community with integrity and exceptional quality care.
NHHS employs 32 providers to cover health needs for primary care, express care, behavioral health, obstetrics, emergency services, anesthesia, wound care, pharmacy, and surgery (general, orthopedic, podiatric, and gynecological). NHHS offers visiting specialty clinics (dermatology, cardiology, nephrology, etc.), outpatient services including full-service diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pathology, and rehabilitative therapies. NHHS also offers same-day surgical services and has a fully staffed medical acute care unit. A complete list of services is available at newporthospitalandhealth.org.
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 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
