Rapides Regional Medical Center has received two American Heart Association Achievement Awards for ensuring cardiovascular patients receive efficient and coordinated care.
It is the second straight year RRMC has received the following Achievement Awards:
- Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target: Stroke with Honor Roll Elite
- Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.
It also is the fifth consecutive year Rapides Regional Medical Center has earned Get With the Guidelines stroke awards by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and rapid treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. RRMC earned the awards for meeting specific measures in treating patients during the calendar year 2021.
The American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines program is designed to reduce barriers to prompt treatment for cardiovascular events.
“Rapides Regional Medical Center is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest guidelines when it comes to the treatment of stroke patients,” said RRMC Chief Nursing Officer Barbara Griffin, MSN, RN, NE-BC. “We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival and recovery after cardiovascular events. The Get With the Guidelines programs put proven knowledge and metrics to work on a daily basis to improve outcomes for cardiovascular patients.”
The Get With the Guidelines awards demonstrate 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.
“We are pleased to recognize Rapides Regional 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.”