EJGH Receives 5th consecutive GWTG Heart Failure Gold Performance Achievement Award

East Jefferson General Hospital has once again been honored for excellence in cardiac care by the American Heart Association through the ‘Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) quality program.   EJGH is the only hospital in the state of Louisiana to receive the following awards:

• 5th consecutive GWTG Heart Failure Gold Performance Achievement Award
• GWTG Heart Failure Gold-Plus Award, indicating an advanced level of recognition
• Member of the Heart Failure Honor Roll, signifying an advanced level of   heart failure awareness, prevention, and treatment

“Attaining the ‘Get With The Guidelines’ award for a fifth consecutive year is an unprecedented honor in our region and one that our physicians and team members have worked extremely hard for,” says Mark J. Peters, MD, EJGH President, and CEO. “It shows that we consistently provide nationally recognized care day-in and day-out. Our patients expect and deserve this commitment to excellence, and we are extremely proud to deliver it to our community.”

The ‘Get With The Guidelines program is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with the tools that follow proven, evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients. Earning the Gold Performance Award means that a hospital has met the core standard levels of care developed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology for at least 24 consecutive months.

As defined by the American Heart Association, heart failure patients under the ‘Get With The Guidelines’ initiative are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, aspirin, diuretics, and anticoagulants while in the hospital. In addition, patients receive counseling and referrals for cardiac rehab, smoking cessation, and other health education specific to their care.