Fort Wayne, Ind. – Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 — Parkview Hospital officials today were presented with the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) Gold Performance Achievement Award and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Program Participation Award.
The awards recognize Parkview Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of heart care that effectively improves treatment of patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease.
Under the GWTG-CAD program, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, and beta-blockers and receive smoking cessation and weight management counseling, as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged from the hospital.
Hospitals that receive the Gold Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for 24 consecutive months that at least 85 percent of its eligible coronary patients (without contraindications) are discharged following the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines.
The GWTG-Heart Failure program provides hospital staff with tools that follow evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalizations.
Under the GWTG-Heart Failure program, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and anticoagulants. Patients also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling, as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged from the hospital.
“This is a great honor to be recognized as a national leader in providing excellent cardiac care,” said Sue Ehinger, chief operating officer, Parkview Hospital. “The Parkview Heart Institute team is committed to patient-centered care and improving outcomes for cardiac patients. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program assists us in exhibiting quality care to patients and their families.”