07/05/2022

Wentworth-Douglass Earns Multiple “Gold Plus” Awards From American Heart Association

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has earned multiple “Gold Plus” awards from the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” program, for demonstrating a commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke. This is the first time the program at the hospital’s Center for Heart Health has earned a Gold Plus Award.

The awards won by Wentworth-Douglass include:

• The American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Heart Failure Award, with Target Heart Failure Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition.

• The American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Stroke Award, with Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition.

Kim Chapman, heart failure program manager at the hospital’s Center for Heart Health, says following the rigorous guidelines ultimately leads to shorter recovery times, fewer hospital readmissions, and more lives saved.

“This award is recognition of all the hard work that the heart failure team is doing to improve medication adherence, provide early follow-up care, and enhance patient education,” Chapman said. “The goal of Wentworth-Douglass’ Heart Failure Clinic is to reduce hospital admissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition. With the addition of our Advanced Heart Failure Program at Pease and the CardioMEMS program we are able to care for patients in all stages of heart failure.”

Wentworth-Douglass’ Primary Stroke Center has won multiple Gold Plus awards and this recent award is a continuation of the staff’s effort to focus on patient-centered care.

Cathy Danforth, clinical nurse leader of the hospital’s stroke and sepsis programs, stressed that every patient’s stroke experience is unique, and that the hospital works closely with all stroke patients from the moment they’re admitted, through discharge planning, to make sure their individual needs are met.

“For the past four years the Wentworth-Douglass stroke care team has consistently met and exceeded the American Heart Association’s guidelines,” Danforth said. “The recognition represents the commitment and collaboration of all Wentworth-Douglass clinicians caring for stroke patients to provide high quality, evidence-based care to improve outcomes and prevent disability.”

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

The “Get With The Guidelines” program puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines program, Wentworth-Douglass qualified for the award by demonstrating how the organization committed to improving quality care.

“We are pleased to recognize Wentworth-Douglass Hospital for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.