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Prime Healthcare Hospitals Receive American Heart Association Awards for Stroke and Heart Failure

Posted on Dec 14, 2020

Prime Healthcare hospitals throughout the United States have received 42 American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® (GWTG) Quality Achievement Awards for the treatment of heart failure and stroke.

The American Heart Association recognized 25 Prime Healthcare hospitals with the GWTG Heart Failure Award. This award highlights a hospital’s commitment to ensuring patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association gave 17 Prime Healthcare hospitals the GWTG Stroke Award, which recognizes a hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

“We are pleased to recognize Prime Healthcare for its commitment to heart failure and stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee, executive vice chair of Neurology, and director of Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “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 hospitals earned the awards by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability. Before discharge, patients received education on managing their health, got a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“All of our hospitals are dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients with heart failure and stroke by implementing the Get With The Guidelines initiatives,” said Sunny Bhatia, MD, the CEO of Region I and Corporate Chief Medical Officer. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve outcomes for our patients.”

American Heart Association’s Stroke and Heart Failure programs recognize hospitals’ commitment to quality heart failure care based on achievement measures (Bronze, Silver, Gold) and quality measures (Plus Distinction), along with reporting measures (Target Honor Roll).

For heart failure awards designated “Target: Honor Roll,” hospitals are required to meet specific criteria that improve medication adherence, provide early follow-up care and coordination and enhances patient education. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.

American Heart Association’s Stroke Program focuses on improving stroke outcomes by monitoring seven achievement measures and eight quality measures (evidence-based guidelines).

For Stroke Awards wards designated by “Stroke® Honor Roll/Target: Stroke® Elite/Target: Stroke® Elite Plus,” hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke

For stroke awards designated “Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll,” hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”

The following hospitals received the Stroke Award:

Silver Plus

Gold Plus

The following hospitals received the Heart Failure Award:

Silver Plus:

Gold Plus:
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