NUMC Included in US News & World Report of Best Hospitals

The following is courtesy of NuHealth, the parent organization of the East Meadow-based :

Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, announced that the Nassau University Medical Center has been recognized for achievement in using evidence-based guidelines to provide the best possible care to patients through the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Performance Achievement Stroke Program.

The level I trauma center and teaching hospital was included in the August issue of US News and World Report “Best Hospitals” listing for implementing quality heart disease and stroke care. NUMC and 789 other hospitals are featured in a special advertisement in the magazine, with a total of 931 awards given for achievement in coronary artery disease, stroke and/or heart failure treatment.

“We are proud that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have chosen the ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ issue of US News & World Report to recognize NUMC for our Gold Plus achievements in their Get with the Guidelines stroke program,” said Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System. “The goal of this initiative is to improve the quality of life and help reduce deaths and disability among patients with stroke. Get with the Guidelines gives our professionals the tools and reports they need to effectively treat our stroke patients.”

Hospitals recognized in each category achieve at least 85 percent compliance to Get with the Guidelines measures. Those achieving 85 percent compliance for 24 consecutive months receive the Gold Performance Achievement Award, with the Silver Performance Achievement Award going to those with 85 percent compliance for 12 consecutive months. Special recognition is also given for those hospitals achieving 85 percent compliance in two or all three categories and/or for being in 75 percent compliance with heart failure and/or stroke measures.

Get with the Guidelines is a hospital-based quality-improvement program designed to ensure that hospitals consistently care for cardiac and stroke patients following the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations. The program addresses coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke. Currently more than 1,400 hospitals participate in the program.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s advertisement recognizes NUMC’s commitment and success in performance achievement.

Lyn D. Weiss, MD, chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at NUMC congratulated Dr. Ricardo (Eric) Cruz, director of the brain injury program at NUMC, and his team on this prestigious recognition, “This accomplishment is a reflection on you as a leader and your team as a unit. You have done an amazing job elevating the NUMC Stroke Program to an award winning level, great work!”

“The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize its top Get with the Guidelines participants,” said Lee Schwamm, M.D., national chairman of the Get with the Guidelines steering committee, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and vice chairman of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Healthcare providers who use Get with the Guidelines are armed with the latest evidence-based guidelines and immediate access to clinical decision support, using a set of tools that have been shown to improve delivery of evidence-based care. Published scientific studies are providing us with more and more evidence that Get with the Guidelines works.  Patients are getting the right care they need when they need it.  That’s resulting in improved survival.”