The American Heart Association Presents Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus Award for Proven Dedication to Ensuring All Heart Failure Patients Have Access to Best Practices and Life-Saving Care
CONTACT:
Chester County Hospital: Rebecca Mountain DNP, RN
Phone: 610-738-2583
Email: rebecca.mountain@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(WEST CHESTER, PA) — Chester County Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure, meaning reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.
About six million U.S. adults are living with heart failure, a number that is expected to increase to more than eight million by 2030. Despite the name, heart failure 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 heart failure, patients can live a quality life by working with their healthcare 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 increase healthy days at home and reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
"Chester County Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines," says Rebecca Mountain, DNP, RN, Program Manager of Heart Failure and COPD at Chester County Hospital. "Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Chester County, PA can experience longer, healthier lives."
Each year, program participants qualify 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, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their heart failure at home.
"We are pleased to recognize the leaders and teams at Chester County 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."
Chester County 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.
Additionally, Chester County Hospital 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.
About Chester County Hospital
Founded in 1892 as the county's first hospital, the non-profit has grown into a 309-bed acute-care inpatient facility in West Chester, PA. It also has outpatient services in Exton, West Goshen, New Garden, West Grove, Jennersville, and Kennett Square, PA. In 2013, Chester County Hospital became part of Penn Medicine, one of the world's leading academic medical centers dedicated to medical education, biomedical research, and excellent patient care. In addition to quality-driven medical and surgical services, Chester County Hospital also offers home health, inpatient hospice, and skilled nursing care; occupational medicine; outpatient laboratory, radiology, and physical therapy services; wound care; cardiopulmonary rehab; and a prenatal clinic for the underserved. In 2020, Chester County Hospital completed the largest expansion in its history. The project welcomed a state-of-the-art procedural platform with 15 operating room suites, a 99-bed patient tower, a new main entrance, and an expanded and renovated Emergency Department. Learn More About Chester County Hospital >>
About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. Learn More! >>
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