St. Mary Medical Center Receives Silver Award in Heart Failure Care
The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
“This award is a testament to the work and commitment of our highly-skilled medical team,” states Hospital President Carolyn Caldwell. “Being honored for providing excellent care is the highest recognition a hospital can receive. SMMC is dedicated to improving the quality of cardiovascular care and implementing the Get With The Guidelines program is aligned with that goal.”
According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million people in the U.S. are living with heart failure. It is one of the most common reasons that individuals aged 65 years and older go to the hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart diseases account for 1 in every 4 deaths in the U.S. each year.
SMMC earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
About Dignity Health-St. Mary Medical Center
Founded as a faith-based hospital in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center is a 389-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Long Beach, California. The hospital offers a full complement of services, including a Level II trauma center, cardiac and vascular center, surgical weight loss, maternity and the CARE Center, which is a recognized PrEP center of excellence. The hospital shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health, one of the nation’s five largest health care systems.
Publish date:
Monday, May 21, 2018