BARABOO, WI, 2024 — SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Silver Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure, meaning reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.
About 6 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure (HF), a number that is expected to increase to more than 8 million by 2030. Despite the name, HF doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working – it means the heart is having a hard time pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there’s no cure for HF, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team to create and stick with a plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.
The Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. The program aims to increasing healthy days at home and reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.
“St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Jamie Gavinski, Chronic Disease Program Coordinator. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Baraboo can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for HF patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their HF at home.
“We are pleased to recognize the leaders and teams at St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo for a strong commitment to caring for people with heart failure,” said Sabra Lewsey, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Heart Failure System of Care Advisory Group and assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure often see better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for families, communities and health care systems.”
St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo is also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart FailureSM Honor Roll. Hospitals on the Honor Roll meet specific criteria that improve medication adherence, provide early follow-up care and coordination, and enhance patient education. The goal is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.
About SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation.
SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Baraboo is Sauk County’s largest hospital, serving the health care needs of residents in the greater Baraboo, Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells area. The 100-bed hospital provides radiation oncology, total joint replacement, women’s health services, and other specialty care. In 2018, St. Clare Hospital was certified by the Joint Commission for diabetes education and heart failure education.
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