The American College of Cardiology has honored Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge for its adherence to superior standards in the treatment of heart attack patients. (Wuestoff image)
BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – The American College of Cardiology recently honored Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge for its adherence to superior standards in the treatment of heart attack patients.
The Rockledge facility has become one of only 319 hospitals across the country to receive the NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2015.
The award signifies the success of Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge in implementing a higher standard of care for treating heart attack patients and following standard levels of care outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology operate the ACTION Registry-GWTG program, in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
The program provides the latest scientifically based metrics and national standards for treating coronary artery disease and heart attack.
Tim Cerullo
“We have an excellent team that works hard to deliver exceptional care to our patients and their families, and this award reflects our unwavering commitment in this effort,” said Tim Cerullo, CEO of Wuesthoff Health System.
“Following these clinical recommendations requires both emergency and cardiovascular personnel to work together as a cohesive unit, which plays a crucial role in achieving better outcomes for heart attack patients and saving lives.”
To earn this designation, healthcare providers must demonstrate that they have consistently followed the treatment guidelines in the ACTION Registry–GWTG Premier for eight consecutive quarters and met a performance standard of 90 percent for specific performance measures.
The measurements are an assessable means of improving outcomes at hospitals, challenging them to provide maximum care in the treatment of heart disease.
James Jollis
“The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association commend Wuesthoff Medical Center-Rockledge for its success in implementing standards of care and protocols. The full implementation of acute and secondary prevention guideline-recommended therapy is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of heart attack patients,” said James Jollis, MD, FACC, ACTION Registry-GWTG Chair and Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Duke University Hospital.
A heart attack is the result of a blockage in a coronary artery that prevents blood from flowing to the heart muscle itself. The condition afflicts more than 700,000 Americans every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and is a major cause of death.
“Adhering to these guidelines makes a meaningful difference and places us in an exclusive group of hospitals nationwide,” said Cerullo.
“We’re very proud of this distinction and we’ll continue to work hard to deliver the best cardiac care possible within our community.”
