GRMC Cardiology Wins “Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure” Award
Hospital Earns National Recognition For Efforts To Improve Management Of Heart Failure
(Tuesday, October 5, 2021; Dededo, Guam) Guam Regional Medical City’s (GRMC) Cardiology department has received the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure” Silver Award for their commitment to managing heart failure in patients.
The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
“GRMC 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®– Heart Failure’ initiative,” said Dr. Michael Cruz, CEO and President. “For two consecutive years, the American Heart Association has recognized GRMC’s Cardiology department for their care of heart failure patients and we’re very proud.”
Each year program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for heart failure patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their heart failure once at home.
“We are pleased to recognize GRMC for their commitment to heart failure care,” said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., MSc, MACC, FAHA, MACP, FHFSA, national chairperson of the American Heart Association Heart Failure systems of care advisory group and chief, division of cardiology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. “Hospitals that follow ‘Get With The Guidelines’ protocols often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities.”
Additionally, GRMC received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”
GRMC’s Heart Failure team is comprised of a multi-disciplinary group that includes Cardiologists Drs. Robert Palusinski and Marian Holland, Nurse practitioner Carla Haddock, Cardiology Medical Assistants Irene De Guzman and John Tandoc, and Cardiology nurse Jessica Villarta in conjunction with our Hospital Medicine and Patient Education departments.
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 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.