Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s GOLD PLUS Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure, meaning reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital was also recently recognized as high performing in heart failure by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022-2023 “America’s Best Hospitals” rankings. A hospital’s congestive heart failure score is based on multiple data categories, including patient outcomes, volume, advanced heart programs and more.
About 6.2 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure (HF). Despite the name, HF doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working – it means the heart is having a hard time pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there’s no cure for HF, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team to create and stick with a plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.
The Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. The program aims to increasing healthy days at home and reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
“Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital is committed to delivering outstanding comprehensive heart care,” said Christopher Berry, MD, interventional cardiologist, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Kishwaukee Hospital. “We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association and U.S. News & World Report for our dedication to helping patients with heart failure live longer and healthier lives.”
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital have also earned the GOLD PLUS Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure quality achievement award
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital is also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart FailureSM Honor Roll. Hospitals on the Honor Roll meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides early follow-up care and coordination, and enhances patient education. The goal is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital additionally received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart disease or stroke.
“We are pleased to recognize the leaders and teams at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital for a strong commitment to caring for people with heart failure,” 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 participate in Get With The Guidelines quality improvement programs often see better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html.
Original source can be found here.
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