Central Carolina Hospital Nationally Recognized by the American Heart Association

Feb. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- SANFORD, NC (February 23, 2011) - Central Carolina Hospital was recently recognized for its outstanding achievement in implementing the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure. The community hospital received a GOLD PLUS Performance Achievement Award in heart failure care, the highest level of award a hospital can achieve through the AHA's program, as well as a GOLD Performance Achievement Award for Coronary Artery Disease.

This accomplishment signifies that Central Carolina Hospital has reached an aggressive goal of treating coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure patients with 85 percent compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines and recommendations.

Get With The Guidelines helps ensure that patients treated and discharged receive quality care in accordance with guidelines that will reduce the risk of secondary events. It takes advantage of the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a heart attack or stroke, when patients are most likely to listen to their healthcare professionals’ treatment recommendations. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.

According to Get With The Guidelines treatment guidelines, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants in the hospital, or in the case of stroke, they may receive tPA, antithrombotics and DVT prophylaxis. They also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.

Central Carolina Hospital has consistently and successfully implemented these quality measures for 24 consecutive months since they began participating in the program.

“The full implementation of acute and secondary prevention guideline recommended therapy is a critical step in reducing death and disability of cardiovascular disease patients,” said Gregg C Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. “The goal of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like Central Carolina implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce the number of deaths in these patients and in their communities. CCH has achieved a high level of performance in terms of implementing these life-prolonging treatments.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, each year approximately 325,000 people suffer a recurrent heart attack, 5.7 million people suffer from heart failure and 795,000 people suffer a stroke.

“Central Carolina is dedicated to making our care for heart disease and stroke patients among the best in the country. We will continue in our efforts to build off the success achieved with continued implementation of this valuable program,” said Ursula Lawrence, Chief Nursing Officer. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our professionals to improve the long-term outcomes of our cardiac and stroke patients, and we are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements.”

CCH’s staff develops and implements acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable CCH to improve the quality of care it provides heart disease and stroke patients, save lives and ultimately, reduce healthcare costs by lowering recurrence of events.

Please visit http://www.mediapartners-inc.com/wordpress/wp-content/upl... to download the Get With The Guidelines Coronary Artery Disease logo or http://www.mediapartners-inc.com/wordpress/wp-content/upl... for the Heart Failure logo.

About Central Carolina Hospital
Central Carolina Hospital, part of Tenet North Carolina, is a 137-bed acute care hospital located at 1135 Carthage Street in Sanford, N.C. Central Carolina Hospital serves the medical and health care needs of Lee County and surrounding counties. Central Carolina Hospital offers a wide range of programs and services including emergency services, outpatient rehabilitation programs, advanced diagnostic imaging, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and maternity services. Central Carolina Hospital also provides cardiology services including cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programs. The hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.centralcarolinahospital.com.

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Central Carolina Hospital, part of Tenet North Carolina, is a 137-bed acute care hospital located at 1135 Carthage Street in Sanford, N.C. Central Carolina Hospital serves the medical and health care needs of Lee County and surrounding counties.