Closing the Gap in Rural Health Outcomes: American Heart Association Extends Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator

Strategic Insights -

Rural Americans face alarming health disparities, with a 30% higher risk of stroke, 40% more likelihood of developing heart disease, and living an average of three years less than their urban counterparts. In an effort to bridge this gap, the American Heart Association has extended its Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator for three years, providing no-cost enrollment opportunities to new rural organizations participating in the Get With The Guidelines programs for coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke. This initiative has already seen significant success, with 430 rural hospitals enrolling in the Accelerator and over 1,000 rural hospitals engaged in over 1,500 Get With The Guidelines programs nationwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Heart Association has extended its Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator for three years, providing no-cost enrollment opportunities to new rural organizations participating in Get With The Guidelines programs.
  • The Accelerator has significantly expanded rural hospital participation in Get With The Guidelines, with 430 rural hospitals enrolled and over 1,000 rural hospitals engaged in over 1,500 Get With The Guidelines programs nationwide.
  • Rural hospitals that participate in the Accelerator will receive no-cost access to the Get With The Guidelines programs for coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke, as well as access to the peer-to-peer American Heart Association Rural Community Network.
  • Participating federally designated Critical Access Hospitals will receive no-cost access to all five Get With The Guidelines programs, including atrial fibrillation and resuscitation.
  • The American Heart Association recognizes Get With The Guidelines Rural participants with recognition awards focused on performance metrics developed for rural hospitals.
  • In 2025 alone, more than 650 rural hospitals earned recognition awards through the program, a nearly 30% increase over the previous year.
  • The Rural Accelerator Quality Improvement Challenge Scholarship will support hospitals sharing model practices at national conferences.
  • Key highlights of the program extension include dedicated quality program consultants, continued learning collaboratives, enhancements to the Rural Get With The Guidelines registry, and the launch of the scholarship.

Statistics:

  • Rural Americans face a 30% higher risk of stroke and a 40% more likelihood of developing heart disease compared to their urban counterparts.
  • Rural Americans live an average of three years less than their urban counterparts.
  • 430 rural hospitals have enrolled in the Accelerator, representing over 1,000 rural hospitals engaged in over 1,500 Get With The Guidelines programs nationwide.
  • More than 650 rural hospitals earned recognition awards in 2025, a nearly 30% increase over the previous year.
  • Over 35 million volunteers globally support the American Heart Association in its mission to ensure equitable health in all communities.

Sources:

  • [1] American Heart Association. (n.d.). Press Release: American Heart Association Extends Rural Health Care Outcomes Accelerator. Retrieved from heart.org/ruralaccelerator