According to the American Heart Association, more than 6.5 million adults in the United States are living with heart failure, a notoriously difficult condition to treat.
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. Mercy Health recognizes this and has worked diligently to implement specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association (AHA) at Springfield Regional Medical Center.
Additionally, Mercy Health runs a congestive heart failure clinic that provides education, tools, resources and individualized care plans designed to help CHF patients and their families manage the disease and avoid hospital readmission.
The AHA has recognized Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center with its Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s 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.
“The heart team at Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center 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-HF initiative,” said Adam Groshans, Interim President, Mercy Health - Springfield. “I thank our nurses, doctors, clinical leaders and staff for their efforts, which make this recognition possible.”
Springfield Regional Medical Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
The AHA also placed Springfield Regional Medical Center on its Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll. Hospitals that meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides early follow-up care and coordination and enhances patient education earn a spot on the Honor Roll. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.
“We are pleased to recognize Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center for its commitment to heart failure care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “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.”