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Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton Earns Stroke and Heart Failure Achievement Awards

American Heart Association Award recognizes Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton’s commitment to quality stroke and heart failure care

By Lisa Marie Halecky
August 22, 2018

For the tenth consecutive year, Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton (LVH–Hazleton) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. Each award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke and heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence.

Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

LVH–Hazleton earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“A stroke patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute stroke treatment is delayed. This recognition further demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely,” says Anthony Valente, MD, Chief Medical Officer, LVH–Hazleton. “Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients. The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”

Get With The Guidelines®–Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

LVH–Hazleton earned this 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.

“Our health care team is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients with heart failure by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-HF initiative,” Valente says. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

LVH–Hazleton also received the association’s Target: Heart Failure™ Honor Roll for the sixth consecutive year. Hospitals are required to meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides early follow-up care and coordination and enhances patient education. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.

These awards recognize all LVH–Hazleton caregivers and support staff who work so diligently to provide our patients with high quality, best practice care.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 6 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

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