St. David's HealthCare facilities receive national recognition for cardiovascular and stroke care
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Each year, they claim more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.
St. David’s HealthCare facilities recently earned the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards 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 and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
“We are honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for our dedication to helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes after a heart attack or stroke,” Ken Mitchell, M.D., chief medical officer of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “Our physicians, nurses and staff are committed to providing exceptional care to the Austin community, and we are incredibly proud of their work.”
Heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Each year, they claim more lives in the U.S. than all forms of cancer. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.
Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease
St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center received the Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus award for the treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) heart attack patients, while St. David’s North Austin Medical Center received Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold award.
A STEMI heart attack is caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart, and it requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
St. David’s Medical Center and St. David’s North Austin Medical Center received the Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold award for the treatment of non-STEMI heart attack patients.
Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke
St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center received the Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center also received the Target: Type 2 DiabetesTM Honor Roll award by ensuring 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 stroke.
Additionally, St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center received the Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award, while St. David’s North Austin Medical Center and St. David’s Georgetown Hospital received the Target: StrokeSM Elite award. To qualify, hospitals must meet specific criteria to reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.