The American Heart Association has launched an important initiative that aims to improve cardiac and stroke healthcare outcomes in rural hospitals. In 2020, the Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association demonstrated an alarming trend in rural America. This data indicates that rural residents are at a 30% higher risk of stroke, 40% more likely to develop heart disease, and live an average of 3 years fewer than urban counterparts. One of several strategies developed by the AHA to improve rural health is the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator quality initiative.
The Rural Accelerator is bringing rural hospitals across the country together to share wisdom and strategies with an overarching goal of supporting longer, healthier lives. It is an evidence based, comprehensive, collaborative, and innovative program tailored for rural hospitals that aims to improve cardiovascular and stroke care outcomes. The association’s GWTG programs have been proven to improve adoption of the most current clinical practice guidelines, and are recommended by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, and Health Resources and Services Administration in the 2025 Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) Measures Suggested Additional Quality Programs.
Key participant benefits include:
- 3 years of no cost participation in Get With The Guidelines® (GWTG®) Stroke, Coronary Artery Disease, and Heart Failure Quality Improvement | American Heart Association (with new enrollment in GWTG)
- Dedicated rural quality consultant support
- Quarterly stroke and cardiac rural learning collaboratives
- AHA Rural Community Network & AHA Professional Membership allowing access to AHA’s Scientific Community, & Guidelines and Statements
- Rural Enrollment & Recognition Award Promotional Toolkits for GWTG® Stroke, Coronary Artery Disease, and Heart Failure: performance measures & methodology structured with rural hospitals in mind by prioritizing evidence-based care opportunities in Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Attack, Stroke, and Heart Failure events.
- No cost access to hundreds of on demand virtual professional continuing education courses AHA’s Professional Education Hub
- Support for cardiac and stroke Healthcare Certification Programs
The American Heart Association has made a significant commitment to offer rural hospitals across the country an opportunity to join the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator at no cost. New Rural Accelerator participants will join over 420 program participants across the US who have already enrolled in the initiative, and nearly 1200 participants from rural hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines® Rural overall. We encourage you to review testimonials from Rural Accelerator participating hospitals to better understand how the initiative might benefit your hospital and community.
If you are interested in learning more about the Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator please reach out to the AHA Rural Team by emailing RuralGWTGSupport@heart.org or schedule a meeting with the AHA’s Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator team today!