John Randolph Medical Center Receives American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines Bronze Performance Achievement Award

Richmond, VA, July 31, 2009 — John Randolph Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines(sm)–Heart Failure Bronze Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. The recognition signifies that John Randolph Medical Center has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients for at least 90 days with 85% compliance to core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with tools that follow proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalizations. The program includes quality-improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. According to Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure treatment guidelines, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics, and anticoagulants in the hospital. They also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.

“John Randolph Medical Center is proud to be the area’s only facility with this recognition,” said Ed Littlejohn, Interim CEO, John Randolph Medical Center. “We are dedicated to putting our patients first and making sure they have the best possible care for heart failure and other cardiac conditions.”

The full implementation of national heart failure guideline recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of heart failure patients,” said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. “The goal of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like John Randolph Medical Center implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients.”

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million people suffer from heart failure. Statistics also show each year more than 292,200 people will die of heart failure. Earlier this month, John Randolph Medical Center was recognized in the US Hospital Compare rankings as having the lowest rate for pneumonia and heart failure deaths in the Richmond and Tri-Cities.

About John Randolph Medical Center
John Randolph Medical Center, a 147-bed facility located at 411 West Randolph Road in Hopewell, has served the Tri-Cities for over 90 years, providing high quality healthcare services, from oncology and cardiac care to behavioral health and emergency medicine. The facility combines a small-town atmosphere with sophisticated technology commonly found in large urban hospitals.  John Randolph is part of the HCA Virginia Health System, the largest healthcare provider in the Richmond metropolitan area. Affiliated with CJW’s Levinson Heart Hospital, the Cardiac Care services include noninvasive and minimally invasive diagnostics, cardiac catheterization, stress tests and a cardiac rehab program certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.  Offered in association with CJW’s Thomas Johns Cancer Hospital, Oncology Services offer individualized treatment protocols accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, outpatient infusion, chemotherapy, as well as inpatient and surgical services.  The ICU/CCU offers eICU WATCH for critical patients, a patient-monitoring system also available at HCA hospitals throughout the Richmond region. The 24-hour Emergency Room offers two distinct treatment areas – an Express ED designed for non-emergent concerns and an acute section for more serious injury and illness. www.johnrandolphmed.com

###

Pictured above: Erik Walker of the American Heart Association presents the Get With The Guidelines Bronze Performance Award to John Randolph Medical Center’s Patsy Coghill, Chief Nursing Officer, Ed Littlejohn, Interim CEO, Clifford Morris, M.D., Debbie Billingsley, Outcomes Manager, Bonnie Barbini, Director of Quality and Risk Management,, and Sherri McGrath, Outcomes Manager.