The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure Gold Plus award for commitment to prioritizing quality care for heart failure patients
Northwest Health – Porter has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines®- Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award for their commitment to managing heart failure in patients. The Gold Plus award is the highest level of Get with the Guidelines® a hospital can receive. The hospital is one of three in the state of Indiana to achieve this level and the only Gold Plus honoree in Northern Indiana.
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 award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines found in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
“Northwest Health – Porter 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 Ashley Dickinson, CEO – Northwest Health. “Our end goal is to ensure more people in Northwest Indiana can experience longer, healthier lives.”
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 Northwest Health – Porter 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.”
