PINEHURST, N.C. -- FirstHealth hospitals have again been recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in stroke and heart failure care. The Get With The Guidelines – Stroke and Heart Failure quality achievement awards are earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating these patients according to the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines.
This year, FirstHealth hospitals achieved the following awards for stroke and heart failure care:
Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst
- Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Plus with Target: Heart Failure with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Gold
Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond
- Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Bronze
Moore Regional Hospital-Hoke
- Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
Montgomery Memorial Hospital, Troy
- Get With The Guidelines®-Rural Stroke Silver
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
“Our team is honored to once again be recognized with the Get with the Guidelines Stroke awards,” said Melanie Blacker, M.D., stroke program director.
“This achievement helps emphasize our commitment to excellence in stroke care and our dedication to using the latest evidence-based practices to ensure the best possible care for our patients affected by stroke.”
About 6.7 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure, a number that is expected to increase to more than 8 million by 2030. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working – it means the heart is having a hard time pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body.
While there is no cure, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team to create and stick with a plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.
At the FirstHealth Heart Failure Clinic, our compassionate professionals use advanced technology to monitor and optimize treatment plans for patients to help reduce their chances of being admitted to the hospital and improve their quality of life.
“From medication education to comprehensive exams, our phenomenal heart failure team is continuously working to improve outcomes for patients with heart failure,” said Aubrey Kinsman, PA-C, provider at the FirstHealth Heart Failure Clinic.
“We are honored to have these efforts recognized through the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines awards."
