Cardiovascular diseases, including heart conditions and stroke, remain the leading causes of mortality in the United States. Prompt and efficient emergency cardiovascular care is critical to improving patient outcomes and saving lives. Recognizing the paramount importance of quality and timely intervention, the American Heart Association (AHA) has acknowledged a record number of healthcare organizations dedicated to upholding the highest standards in cardiovascular patient care.
In August 2023, the American Heart Association announced the recognition of 2,671 hospitals and emergency response organizations. This is a significant increase of nearly 145 organizations compared to the previous year, highlighting a growing commitment within the healthcare sector to enhance cardiovascular care. This recognition is awarded under the AHA’s prestigious Get With The Guidelines® and Mission: Lifeline® programs, which are designed to assist hospitals and emergency medical services in consistently applying the most current, evidence-based guidelines for cardiovascular treatment.
These quality improvement programs serve as benchmarks for healthcare providers, pushing them to meet rigorous standards in patient care. The Get With The Guidelines program focuses on hospital-based care enhancement, while Mission: Lifeline targets the improvement of systems of care for patients experiencing severe heart events, particularly STEMI heart attacks. Through participation and adherence to these programs, healthcare facilities demonstrate their dedication to reducing delays in treatment and improving overall patient outcomes in critical cardiovascular situations.
Dr. Joseph Wu, president of the American Heart Association, emphasizes the critical nature of coordinated and efficient care for patients experiencing cardiovascular emergencies. He states, “Patients experiencing cardiovascular events depend on efficient, coordinated care to survive. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® and Mission: Lifeline® programs help hospitals follow the latest, research-based standards to ensure each of their patients has the best chance of survival and the highest quality of life possible.” The AHA’s commitment through these programs translates to tangible improvements in healthcare delivery and patient survival rates.
The scope of recognition by the American Heart Association is broad, encompassing various categories of cardiovascular treatment, including stroke, management of high cholesterol, cardiac arrest, heart failure, STEMI heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. The awards are structured in levels, from bronze to gold plus, reflecting the degree to which participating organizations meet specific performance criteria within each category. This tiered system encourages continuous improvement and allows organizations to progressively enhance their patient care protocols.
For over two decades, the American Heart Association has been at the forefront of promoting quality improvement in healthcare. The consistent growth in participation and recognition in Get With The Guidelines® and Mission: Lifeline® programs underscores the increasing value healthcare organizations place on these initiatives. This widespread adoption signifies a collective drive within the healthcare community to deliver equitable, high-quality cardiovascular care across diverse communities.
The urgency for continuous improvement in cardiovascular care is underscored by the stark statistics from the American Heart Association’s 2022 Statistical Update: every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke or heart attack. Heart disease and stroke remain the first and fifth leading causes of death in the nation, respectively. By consistently applying evidence-based treatment guidelines, healthcare providers participating in AHA programs are not only improving their performance metrics but are also directly contributing to better recovery and survival rates for countless patients.
More information about the recognized organizations and the Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline programs can be found at www.heart.org/quality.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a dedicated force working towards a world of longer, healthier lives for everyone. With a focus on equitable health, the organization collaborates with numerous entities and is supported by millions of volunteers. The AHA funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health policies, and disseminates vital resources to communities. For nearly a century, this Dallas-based organization has been a leading and trusted source of health information. Connect with the AHA and learn more about their initiatives at heart.org, or through their social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. For immediate assistance, they can be reached at 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is instrumental in assisting hospitals and emergency medical services in establishing and refining systems of care specifically for STEMI patients and other acute cardiovascular events. The program’s effectiveness lies in its approach to unify and mobilize care teams across the entire spectrum of patient care, ensuring the implementation of guideline-based treatment protocols as set forth by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Further details can be found at heart.org.
About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® stands as the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s flagship hospital-based quality improvement initiative. It equips hospitals with the most up-to-date, research-backed guidelines for treating cardiovascular conditions and stroke. Since its inception in 2001, Get With The Guidelines has positively impacted the lives of over 12 million patients, with a core mission focused on saving lives and accelerating patient recovery. Additional information is available at heart.org.
