(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 healthcare system with more than 3,500 employees committed to compassionately caring for the community and offering a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families can rely on comprehensive person-centered care through the system’s 305-bed Stamford Hospital; Stamford Health Medical Group, with more than 30 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 also a major teaching affiliate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dedicated to being the community’s most trusted healthcare 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.