The American Heart Association (AHA) recently bestowed the prestigious Lifeline Gold Plus STEMI Receiving Achievement Award on Hutchinson Regional Medical Center (HRMC).
A spokesman for the AHA said the award was granted to the Cardiovascular team at Hutchinson Regional for demonstrating a commitment to follow up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treatment of heart disease, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.
Aubrey Nuss, Director of Cardiovascular Services at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, said medical issues involving the heart continue nationwide at an astronomical rate. “Every 40 seconds, another person within the United States suffers a heart attack or stroke, the number one and five causes of death in the nation respectively,” Nuss said. “Research shows that patients can recover better when providers, like Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, consistently follow treatment guidelines.”
The AHA Lifeline Award puts the expertise of the AHA to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence-and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Lifeline program, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center qualified for the award by demonstrating how their organization is committed to improving quality care.
John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the AHA and executive vice president for health system affairs at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, gave Hutchinson Regional high marks for their work in treating cardiovascular patients. “Hospitals, like Hutchinson Regional, that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates—a win for health care systems and communities,” Warner said.
Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS), said the Cardiovascular team is totally committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure a timely and proper care for heart patients. “The AHA Lifeline programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more of the residents in Hutchinson and within our service area longer, healthier lives,” Johnson said. “This most recent national designation is reaffirmation of the quality of care provided by Hutchinson Regional and our local team of cardiologists.”
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is an entity of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. Other entities are Health-E-Quip, Horizons Mental Health Center, Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County and the Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.
