Mercy Health hospitals have received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Quality Achievement Awards for their commitment to managing heart failure in patients.
Specifically:
- Anderson Hospital earned the Gold Plus award and a place on the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Clermont Hospital earned the Gold Plus award
- Fairfield Hospital earned the Gold Plus awards and spots on the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll and Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll
- West Hospital earned the Gold Plus award and a place on the Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll
“Mercy Health is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients with heart failure by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure initiative,” said Mercy Health – Cincinnati President Dave Fikse. “Heart failure is a tough condition to manage but our dedicated heart failure care teams have a singular goal in mind – to ensure our patients live longer, healthier lives.”
More than 6.5 million adults in the United States are living with heart failure. Many heart failure patients can lead a full, enjoyable life when their condition is managed with proper medications or devices and with healthy lifestyle changes.
The awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment to ensuring heart failure 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.
Each year program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for heart failure patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their heart failure once at home. There are six levels of achievement – Gold Plus, Gold, Silver Plus, Silver, Bronze and Participating.
“We are pleased to recognize Mercy Health’s hospitals for their commitment to heart failure care,” said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., MSc, MACC, FAHA, MACP, FHFSA, national chairperson of the American Heart Association Heart Failure systems of care advisory group and chief, division of cardiology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. “Hospitals that follow Get With The Guidelines protocols often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
Fairfield Hospital and West Hospital were recognized on the association’s Target: Heart Failure (SM) Honor Roll. Hospitals are required to meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides 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.
Anderson Hospital and Fairfield Hospital additionally received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”