Sierra Vista Earns Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has received the Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology for patients with heart failure.

Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure is a quality improvement program that helps hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, research based standards with the goal of speedy recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. Launched in 2005, numerous published studies have demonstrated the program’s success in achieving patient outcome improvements, including reduction in 30-day readmissions.

Sierra Vista earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients. These measures include evaluation of the patient, proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies, such as ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta-blockers, diuretics, anticoagulants and other appropriate therapies. Before patients are discharged, they also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health.

Sierra Vista is hosting a free community learning event for those who suffer from congestive heart failure on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm in the Sierra Vista Auditorium. Local cardiologist Andrea Tackett, MD, and physical therapist Laurie Stamper will discuss current treatment options for congestive heart failure as well as demonstrate heart healthy exercises to do at home. To reserve your seat, call (800) 483-6387 or visit www.SierraVistaRegional.com. 

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million adults in the United States suffer from heart failure, with the number expected to rise to eight million by 2030. Statistics show that each year, about 870,000 new cases are diagnosed and about 50-percent of those diagnosed will die within five years. However, many heart failure patients can lead a full, enjoyable life when their condition is managed with proper medications or devices and with healthy lifestyle changes.