(ENGLEWOOD, COLO.) – Four Centura Health hospitals have been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the 2019 Get With The Guidelines Quality Achievement Heart and Stroke Awards, illustrating excellence in providing high-quality outcomes for cardiovascular patients from across Colorado and beyond.
These four Centura Health hospitals have been recognized with the prestigious awards by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures for stroke and heart patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility. This achievement recognizes medical centers that are successful in meeting and exceeding guideline therapy recommendations for treating such patients. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke and heart attack/heart failure treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
Centura’s 2019 Awards
- Longmont United Hospital – Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll
- Penrose St. Francis Health Services – Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and Get With The Guidelines Resuscitation Adult Gold
- St. Anthony Hospital – Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Target HF Honor Roll
- St. Anthony North Health Campus – Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target Stroke Honor Roll and Get With the Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Target HF Honor Roll
“When it comes to treating patients suffering from stroke or heart failure, our hospitals are the medical centers of choice for thousands of patients each year,” said Shauna Gulley, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Centura Health. “Individuals know that when faced with a cardiovascular or neurologic emergency, Centura’s robust clinical care programs not only meet but exceed national quality standards and provide the best opportunity for recovery year after year.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. In addition, there 5.7 million adults have been diagnosed with heart failure.
“We are pleased to recognize hospitals within the Centura Health system for their commitment to cardiovascular care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is geared to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for stroke and heart attacks, beginning with the emergency call, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support stroke and heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.
The four Centura Health locations above are home to a leading-edge line of cardiac services, treatment options, resources and some of the best hearts and minds in health care all with the mission of improving the lives of those in the communities they serve. For a full list of Centura Health’s cardiovascular care offerings, click here.
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