Prime Healthcare hospitals throughout the United States have received 45 Quality Achievement Awards from the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® (GWTG) initiative for excellence in treating stroke, diabetes, cardiac arrest, heart attack, and heart failure patients.

The American Heart Association recognized 18 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 also awarded 25 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.”

Stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which includes heart failure, heart attack and cardiac arrest, are among the leading causes of death in the nation. Cardiovascular disease claims more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined.

Prime’s hospitals earned these 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.

“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. We are honored that our hospitals are recognized for clinical excellence, and thank you to our staff and physicians for being stewards of our mission to ensure communities have hospitals that provide the highest quality, affordable care to all.”

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 enhance 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).

The following hospitals received the Heart Failure Award:

Gold Plus

• Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood, CA
• Coshocton Regional Medical Center, Coshocton, OH – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Desert Valley Hospital, Victorville, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Encino Hospital Medical Center, Encino, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Garden City Hospital, Garden City, MI – Target: Type II Diabetes
• Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Garden Grove, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes
• La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, La Palma, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Montclair, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville, NJ – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes
• Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, CA
• Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Sherman Oaks Hospital, Sherman Oaks, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs, MO – Target Honor Roll
• Suburban Community Hospital, East Norriton, PA

Silver Plus

• Huntington Beach Hospital, Huntington Beach, CA – Target Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO – Target: Type II Diabetes

For Stroke Awards 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:

Gold Plus

• Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, San Diego, CA- Target: Type II Diabetes
• Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood, CA- Target: Type II Diabetes
• Dallas Regional Medical Center, Mesquite, TX- Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Encino Hospital Medical Center, Encino, CA
• Garden City Hospital, Garden City, MI – Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Garden Grove, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Harlingen Medical Center, Harlingen, TX – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Knapp Medical Center, Weslaco, TX – Target Strock Elite/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Lower Bucks Hospital, Bristol, PA- Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, CA – Target Stroke Elite
• Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, KS – Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Riverview Regional Medical Center, Gadsden, AL- Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Roxborough Memorial Hospital – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville, NJ – Target: Stroke Honor Roll
• Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, CA- Target Stroke Elite/Target – Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Sherman Oaks Hospital, Sherman Oaks, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Southern Regional Medical Center, Riverdale, GA – Target Stoke Elite/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood, CA – Target Stroke Elite/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO – Target Stroke Honor Roll
• St. Mary’s General Hospital, Passaic, NJ – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs, MO – Target Stroke Elite/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Suburban Community Hospital, East Norriton, PA – Target Stoke Elite/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll

Gold

• San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, CA

Silver Plus

• Huntington Beach Medical Center, Huntington Beach, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes
• Mission Regional Medical Center, Mission, TX – Target: Type II Diabetes

Silver

• Desert Valley Hospital, Victorville, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll

Bronze

• Mission Regional Medical Center, Mission, TX