Awards & Distinctions
Stroke Care Excellence at Valley Baptist Medical Centers
Valley Baptist Medical Centers (VBMC) in Harlingen and Brownsville have been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for their unwavering commitment to high-quality stroke care.
2025 AHA Awards:
VBMC – Harlingen:
- Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines – Stroke
- Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
- Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
VBMC – Brownsville:
- Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines – Stroke
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Both hospitals have achieved the prestigious “Gold Plus” level recognition for more than 10 consecutive years, reflecting sustained excellence in stroke care and patient outcomes.
Specialty Accreditations & Certifications
- Comprehensive Stroke Center – First in the Valley and south of San Antonio (VBMC-Harlingen, DNV GL)
- 10 Years of NEJM Publication
- Level II Trauma Center – First in the Rio Grande Valley (VBMC-Harlingen, ACS)
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation – Both hospitals (ACS & ASMBS)
- Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery (VBMC-Brownsville, SRC)
- Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (VBMC-Brownsville, SRC)
- Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval™ for Knee & Hip Replacement (VBMC-Harlingen)
- Certified Diabetes Education Center (VBMC-Harlingen)
- American College of Cardiology Accredited Chest Pain Center Primary PCI (VBMC-Brownsville)
- American College of Cardiology Accredited Cardiac Cath Lab PCI (VBMC-Brownsville)
- American College of Cardiology NCDR Platinum Performance Achievement Award Chest Pain - MI Registry (VBMC-Brownsville)
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Healthgrades Recognition
VBMC-Harlingen
- America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery (2021–2020)
- America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery (2021–2020)
- Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award (2020)
- Labor & Delivery, OB-GYN, and Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Awards (2018–2020)
VBMC-Brownsville
- Patient Safety Excellence Award (2019–2020)
- Labor & Delivery and OB-GYN Excellence Awards (2015–2020)
- Coronary Intervention Excellence Award (2015)
Women’s Services
- Named among “100 Hospitals with Great Women’s Health Programs” by Becker’s Hospital Review (VBMC-Harlingen, 2020, 2017, 2016)
- Recognized as a Texas Ten Step Facility and Mother-Friendly Worksite (VBMC-Brownsville)
Technological Innovation
- First in the RGV to offer minimally invasive, robotic spine surgery using Brainlab computer navigation, AIRO mobile intraoperative CT, and Cirq robotic surgical arm (VBMC-Harlingen, 2021)
Other Notable Achievements
- CMS 4-Star Rated Hospital (VBMC-Harlingen)
- Tenet Circle of Excellence Award (VBMC-Harlingen, 2018)