Several RWJBarnabas Health facilities have been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for cardiac and stroke care, earning a spot on the 2022 Get With the Guidelines and Mission Lifeline achievement awards list in the stroke, heart failure and resuscitation categories.
The awards recognize hospitals’ commitment to ensuring stroke and heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence, ultimately leading to lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Jersey City Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital were awarded with the “Get With the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll” award; Monmouth Medical Center was awarded with the “Get With the Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus with Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll” award; Newark Beth Israel Medical Center was awarded with the “Get With the Guidelines – Resuscitation Gold” award; and Trinitas Regional Medical Center was awarded with the “Mission: Lifeline Receiving Gold” award.
The RWJBarnabas Health facilities earned the Get With the Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline awards by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke and heart treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for patients. As part of the criteria, before discharge, patients were required to receive education on managing their overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as receive other care transition interventions.
“The recognitions from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association is a testament and dedication to the interdisciplinary teamwork throughout RWJBarnabas Health,” Dr. Gary Rogal, medical director for RWJBarnabas Health Cardiovascular Services, stated. “The framework developed to achieve these awards allows us to track and measure quality, exceed evidenced-based clinical guidelines and provide superior patient outcomes. Receiving this recognition reflects positively on the clinicians and staff that made it happen, as well as the overall mission of RWJBarnabas Health to deliver quality and compassionate care for each patient we serve.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S., and more than 6.5 million adults in the U.S. are living with heart failure. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack. However, both heart failure patients and stroke patients can lead full, enjoyable lives when their conditions are managed with proper medications or devices and with healthy lifestyle changes.
