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

• 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
• Pampa Regional Medical Center, Pampa, TX – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Riverview Regional Medical Center, Gadsden, AL- Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Roxborough Memorial Hospital – Target Stroke Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, CA- Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, CA- Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll

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
• Knapp Medical Center, Weslaco, TX – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket, RI – 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 /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, KS – Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville, NJ – Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• St. Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO – Target Stroke Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV – Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Sherman Oaks Hospital, Sherman Oaks, CA – Target: Type II Diabetes 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 Honor Roll/Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Southern Regional Medical Center, Riverdale, GA – Target Stroke Elite /Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll
• Suburban Community Hospital, East Norriton, PA

The following hospitals received the Heart Failure Award:

Silver Plus:

• Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, San Diego, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Coshocton Regional Medical Center, Coshocton, OH
• Garden City Hospital, Garden City, MI
• Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Garden Grove, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital, Denville, NJ – Target Honor Roll
• Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital, Dover, NJ – Target Honor Roll

Gold Plus:

• Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood, CA
• Desert Valley Hospital, Victorville, CA
• Encino Hospital Medical Center, Encino, CA – Target Honor Roll
• La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, La Palma, CA
• Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Montclair, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Paradise Valley Hospital, National City, CA
• Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Reno, NV – Target Honor Roll
• San Dimas Community Hospital, San Dimas, CA
• Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Sherman Oaks Hospital, Sherman Oaks, CA – Target Honor Roll
• Suburban Community Hospital, East Norriton, PA
• St. Mary’s Medical Center, Blue Springs, MO – Target Honor Roll