UNC Health Lenoir Earns National Recognition for Excellence in Heart and Stroke Care
UNC Health Lenoir has once again been nationally recognized for its commitment to high-quality care, earning four prestigious awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® initiative for excellence in the treatment of heart failure, stroke, and resuscitation, with an emphasis on reducing rural health disparities.
These awards include the Gold Plus Achievement Award for Heart Failure Care, the Gold Plus Achievement Award for Stroke Care, the Gold Rural Recognition Award for Stroke Care, and the Silver Rural Recognition Award for Heart Failure Care. These distinctions reflect UNC Health Lenoir’s dedication to following the most up-to-date, research-based clinical guidelines to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and save lives.
“These awards are a direct reflection of our team’s relentless focus on delivering consistent, high-quality care to every patient, every time,” said Dr. Claire Paris, Chief Medical Officer at UNC Health Lenoir. “We are especially proud to be recognized for excellence in rural care. It speaks to the high level of care we deliver every day and reinforces that our team goes above and beyond to ensure patients in our community receive the exceptional care they deserve.”
UNC Health Lenoir’s recognition comes as heart failure and stroke continue to impact millions of Americans. As of 2025, nearly 6.7 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure, a number projected to rise significantly in coming years. Stroke remains the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S.
Through the Get With The Guidelines® program, UNC Health Lenoir adheres to strict performance measures, such as timely administration of treatments, early identification of stroke symptoms, effective in-hospital cardiac arrest response, and thorough patient education for recovery and long-term care management.
The Gold Rural Stroke Award and Silver Rural Heart Failure Award further highlight UNC Health Lenoir’s role in bridging the gap in health outcomes for rural patients, who are at significantly higher risk for stroke and heart disease. Rural Americans are 40% more likely to develop heart disease and face a 30% greater risk of stroke-related death than those in urban areas.
UNC Health Lenoir remains steadfast in its mission to provide exceptional care to the community.
About UNC Health Lenoir
UNC Health Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit hospital serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 118-year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including interventional cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, and urology. Surgical specialties include general surgery, vascular, orthopedic, and bariatrics. UNC Health Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. For more information or to find a physician, visit unclenoir.org.
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