The American Heart Association Presents the Get With The Guidelines Awards for Proven Dedication to Best Practices and Life-Saving Care
BOSTON – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has received American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award and Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines program, BIDMC qualified for the awards by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care.
"At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, we continuously strive to maintain the highest standards of care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes," said Anthony Weiss, MD, MBA, MSc, chief medical officer at BIDMC. "Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, enhancing the chance of survival and recovery for patients with cardiovascular complications, leading to patients experiencing longer, healthier lives."
This year, BIDMC also received these achievement awards:
- American Heart Association's Target: Heart Failure 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.
- Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll: To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster alteplase.
- American Heart Association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy: Hospitals earn this recognition by meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient's arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center or as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
"We are pleased to recognize Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care," said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. "Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association's quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities."
