Stamford Hospital is Recognized by American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

STAMFORD, CT / September 14, 2020 – Stamford Hospital has received five awards from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). Recognition by the AHA and ASA is a direct reflection of the high-quality care Stamford Health provides to patients who are experiencing heart and vascular conditions. These include heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, and related conditions.

Stamford Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute received these awards from the AHA:

• Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Gold Award: Recognizes specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of STEMI heart attack patients. STEMI is a very serious form of heart attack in which a coronary artery is blocked and the full thickness of the heart muscle cannot receive blood.
• Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI Gold Award: Recognizes specific criteria and standards of performance for the quick and appropriate treatment of NSTEMI heart attack patients by providing emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries when needed. In NSTEMI, coronary artery blockages cause a part of the heart muscle to not receive blood.

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program’s goal is to reduce system barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks, beginning with the 9-1-1 call to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. The initiative provides tools, training and other resources to support heart attack care following protocols from the most recent evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Additionally, Stamford Hospital received the Get With The Guidelines® Resuscitation Silver Award which recognizes specific criteria in treating adult patients who suffer from cardiac arrest in the hospital. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR), and post-resuscitation care.

Stamford Health’s Stroke Center received the following awards from the ASA:

• Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus: Recognizes achieving specific quality measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients including evaluation of the use of optimal medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most evidence-based guidelines.
• Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Honor Roll Award: Recognizes meeting quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with certain drugs.

“We are honored to be recognized by these organizations,” said Kathleen Silard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stamford Health. “I am so proud of our team every day for putting patient care top of mind and for achieving excellent clinical outcomes.

“At Stamford Health, we pride ourselves on care that is evidence-based, because this is the best approach for patients,” said Rohit Bhalla, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Quality, and Chief Clinical and Quality Officer at Stamford Health. “These recognitions demonstrate our commitment to quality care,” commented Bhalla.

Stamford Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute is the only comprehensive heart and vascular program in Lower Fairfield County - offering cardiology and surgical services including general cardiology, non-invasive testing, cardiac rehabilitation, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, structural heart disease and valve care, open heart surgery and vascular surgery. Stamford Health uses state-of-the-art technology such as cardiac MRI imaging and multi-detector CT coronary angiography, all in a single care environment.

Stamford Health’s Stroke Center, part of the Division of Neurosciences, offers swift, life-saving treatment for stroke including thrombectomy, an intervention that uses a catheter to remove blood clots from the brain and restore blood flow. Earlier this year, Stamford was recognized as the first hospital in Connecticut to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification.

About Stamford Health

Stamford Health is a non-profit independent health care system with more than 3,800 employees committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the system’s 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 40 offices in lower Fairfield County offering primary and specialty care; a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region; and support through the Stamford Hospital Foundation.

Stamford Health is known for its expert, person-centered care through its many recognitions and partnerships. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Stamford Hospital as a High-Performing Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rated Stamford Hospital as a five-star hospital for Overall Quality and The Leapfrog Group awarded Stamford Hospital an “A” for patient safety. The American Nurses Credentialing Center has granted Stamford Hospital Magnet Status, which recognizes superior patient care with the highest level of safety, quality, and patient satisfaction. Stamford Health is Planetree Gold-Certified for Excellence in Person-Centered Care and is a Certified™ Great Place to Work.

Stamford Health is a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and has recently expanded its relationship with Columbia to offer treatment and expertise from Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s nationally recognized heart surgeons. Stamford Health and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have created a premier center for specialty orthopedic care right in Stamford, Connecticut. Additionally, in 2020 Stamford Health’s Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center entered into an expanded collaboration with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.

Dedicated to being the community’s most trusted health care partner, Stamford Health puts patients first to build long-lasting relationships. For more information, visit StamfordHealth.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.