Awards and recognition for St. John’s in Far Rockaway

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway is the recipient of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus and Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement awards, and was recognized for high performance in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  by US News & World Report.   

Hospital officials said that the hospital, which also serves the Five Towns, received the awards because of its commitment to “ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence.”

It is the first time that St. John’s attained the Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, and has ranked as high performing in COPD by US News & World Report. It is the fourth consecutive year in which the hospital was given the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

“We’ve managed to successfully integrate the Get With the Guidelines criteria and metrics for heart failure and stroke care into our clinical practice to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients,” Karen Gleason, the hospital’s chief quality officer said in a statement. “Attaining these prestigious awards is reflective of the tireless efforts and commitment of St. John's team members.”

St. Jon’s focus on heart failure and stroke is vital as heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in the Rockaways, and stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of adult disability in the country. On average, a person suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, with almost 795,000 people suffering a new or recurrent stroke every year, nationwide.

More than 6.5 million adults in the U.S. are living with heart failure. Many heart failure patients can lead a full, enjoyable life when their condition is managed with proper medications or devices, and with healthy lifestyle change, hospital officials said.

“St. John's Episcopal Hospital is dedicated to providing the utmost quality care to our patients,” Jerry Walsh, the chief executive officer said in  statement. “Implementing the American Stroke Association and American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines initiatives provides the tools and resources we need. This allows us to track and measure our success in meeting the evidence-based clinical guidelines developed to optimize patient outcomes.”