Arkansas Department of Health Recognizes Hospitals and Ambulance Services for Stroke Care

Arkansas Department of Health Honors Healthcare Providers for Excellence in Stroke Care

• Arkansas Department of Health

• January 9, 2026

Little Rock, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is proud to recognize 48 hospitals, 38 ambulance services, 3 regional teams, and 3 individuals for outstanding performance in stroke patient care during July 2024 through June 2025. Awards are based on key performance measures from the Arkansas Stroke Registry, including defect-free stroke care, stroke band documentation, and door-to-CT times, as well as EMS pre-notification practices that improve patient outcomes statewide.

“Arkansas’s healthcare professionals continue to demonstrate exceptional dedication to improving stroke care,” said Bala Simon, MD, DrPH, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and State Chronic Disease Director at the Arkansas Department of Health. “Their teamwork, commitment to quality, and focus on timely, evidence-based care are helping save lives and strengthen outcomes for patients across the state.”

The three award classes are based on the level of adherence, including:

• Diamond: 95%+
• Ruby: 90% – 94.99%
• Pearl: 85% – 89.99% or 75th+ percentile

Hospitals; CDC/Coverdell Defect-Free Stroke Care*:

Large (Bed Size > 150)

Diamond

• NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

• Washington Regional Medical Center
  Ruby

• CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System

• Conway Regional Medical Center

• Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas

• St. Bernards Medical Center
  Pearl

• Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock

• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith

Medium (Bed Size 51 – 150)

Pearl

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County
• Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
• Northwest Medical Center – Bentonville

Small (Bed Size < 50)

Diamond

• Mercy Emergency Department – Springdale
  Ruby

• Mercy Emergency Department – Bella Vista

• Mercy Hospital Paris
  Pearl

• St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center

• White River Medical Complex Emergency Department
  *To be eligible for a Defect-Free Care Award, a hospital must be stroke designated either through ADH or other accrediting body such as The Joint Commission. A hospital may also qualify for a Pearl award if performance is in the 75th or higher percentile among its designation group.

Hospitals; Door to CT Times:

Large (Bed Size > 150)

Pearl

• CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs
• Conway Regional Medical Center
• Jefferson Regional Medical Center
• National Park Medical Center
• Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center
• South Arkansas Regional Hospital
• Washington Regional Medical Center

Medium (Bed Size 51 – 150)

Diamond

• Mena Regional Health System
  Ruby

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Drew County

• Great River Medical Center
  Pearl

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County

Small (Bed Size < 50)

Diamond

• Chicot Memorial Medical Center
• Eureka Springs Hospital
• Izard County Medical Center
• Lawrence Memorial Hospital
• Mercy Hospital Booneville
• Mercy Hospital Ozark
• Mercy Hospital Waldron
• Sevier County Medical Center
• South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center

• St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center
  Ruby

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Stuttgart

• Mercy Emergency Department – Bella Vista

• Mercy Emergency Department – Springdale
  Pearl

• Bradley County Medical Center

• Dardanelle Regional Medical Center

• Ozarks Community Hospital

• Unity Health – Newport
  Note: Data for the Door to CT within 25-minute measure is filtered to only include cases documented to have a last known well-to-arrival time within 24 hours.

Hospitals; Stroke Band Documentation:

Large (Bed Size > 150)

Diamond

• Baxter Regional Medical Center
• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith
• Saline Memorial Hospital

• White River Medical Center
  Ruby

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock

• Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock

• Conway Regional Medical Center

• Helena Regional Medical Center

• NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital

• North Arkansas Regional Medical Center

• St. Bernards Medical Center

• Washington Regional Medical Center
  Pearl

• Baptist Health Medical Center –Fort Smith

Medium (Bed Size 51 – 150)

Diamond

• CHI St. Vincent North
  Ruby

• Mena Regional Health System
  Pearl

• Baptist Health Medical Center – Hot Spring County

• Ouachita County Medical Center

Small (Bed Size < 50)

Diamond

• Dardanelle Regional Medical Center
• Izard County Medical Center
• Mercy Hospital Booneville
• Mercy Hospital Waldron
• St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center

• White River Medical Complex ER
  Ruby

• Chambers Memorial Hospital

• South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center
  Pearl

• Lawrence Memorial Hospital

• Mercy Emergency Department – Bella Vista

• Ozarks Community Hospital

EMS; Pre-notification – High Stroke Volume (> 20 Runs):

Ruby

• Bentonville Fire Department

• Centerton Fire Department
  Pearl

• Air Evac Lifeteam

• Central EMS

• Crossett Fire Department

• El Dorado Fire Department

• Jacksonville Fire Department

• Liberty EMS Service

• Monticello Ambulance Service

• Siloam Springs Fire Department

• Southwest EMS

• West Memphis Fire Department

EMS; Low to Medium Stroke Volume (3 – 20 Runs):

Ruby

• Med Trans – Hospital Wing
  Pearl

• Eureka Springs Fire Department

• Mercy Lifeline

• NEBCO EMS

• Newport Ambulance Service

• White River EMS

EMS; Stroke Band Documentation; High Stroke Volume (> 20 Runs):

Diamond

• Crossett Fire Department
• West Memphis Fire Department
• El Dorado Fire Department

• Riverside EMS
  Ruby

• Bentonville Fire Department

• Centerton Fire Department

• Central EMS

• Med-Tech EMS

• MEMS

• NorthStar

• ProMed

• Sebastian EMS and Rescue

• Spring River Paramedic Ambulance Service

• Vital Link
  Pearl

• Dumas EMS

• Fort Smith EMS

• Jacksonville Fire Department

• Johnson County EMS

• Madison County EMS

• Monticello Ambulance Service

• Ouachita County Medical Center

• Pinnacle EMS

• Pope County EMS

• Siloam Springs Fire Department

• Southwest EMS

• Springdale Fire Department

EMS; Stroke Band Documentation; Low to Medium Stroke Volume (3 – 20) Runs:

Diamond

• City of Des Arc
• McGehee Fire and Ambulance
• Newport Ambulance Service

• Piggott Community Hospital EMS
  Pearl

• Southeast EMS

Regional Care Awards

• Coverdell Defect-Free Care – Northwest
• Door to CT Times – Southwest
• Stroke Band Documentation – AR Valley Transition of Care Awards

This recognition honors healthcare providers for the exceptional work they did with stroke patients and/or their families as part of the patient’s transition of care.

• Lacey Wheeler, RN & ED Director – AR Methodist Medical Center
• North Arkansas Regional Medical Center ICU Nursing and Case Management team Click here to view in Spanish.

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