Central Coast News KION/KCBAHospital Recognized For Heart Health

SALINAS, Calif.- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System received the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure Bronze Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for its treatment of patients with heart failure. 

In a news release Friday, the hospital said the award is the result of meeting stringent criteria on important clinical standards for treating heart failure patients.  In order to receive the award, Salinas Valley Memorial had to achieve the goal of a minimum of 85 percent compliance to core standard levels of care for heart failure patients as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology.

This is the first year Salinas Valley Memorial has participated in this part of the Get With The Guidelines—Heart Failure program.  It has received the Get With The Guidelines—Coronary Artery Disease Award for the last 5 years.

"Salinas Valley Memorial is dedicated to making our care for heart failure patients among the best in the country, and implementing the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure program will help us accomplish this by making it easier for our professionals to improve the long-term outcome for these patients," said Irene Neumeister, VP/Patient Care and Cardiovascular Services.

Under this program, Salinas Valley Memorial's staff develops and implements acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality-improvement measures such as standardized patient education measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable Salinas Valley Memorial to improve the quality of care itprovides heart failure patients, save lives and ultimately, reduce healthcare costs by lowering the recurrence of hospital readmissions.