Providence Alaska Medical Center recognized for treatment of heart attack, stroke, diabetes

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association honors
hospital’s commitment to providing life-saving care

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) has received four American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

This year, PAMC received these achievement awards:

“We are honored to be recognized as part of the Get With The Guidelines program because it demonstrates the hard work and commitment of our caregivers to ensure Alaskans receive the best care possible for heart attack, stroke and Type II diabetes,” said Sarah Skeel, chief administrative officer, Providence Alaska Medical Center. “Patients and their loved ones should feel confident knowing that when they come to us for treatment, we are utilizing the latest treatment guidelines to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes.”

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline put the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Mission: Lifeline/Get With The Guidelines programs, PAMC qualified for the award by demonstrating how the organization has committed to improving quality care.

“We are pleased to recognize Providence Alaska Medical Center for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Hospitals 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, families and communities.”

Get With The Guidelines supports hospitals in many ways, including:

  • Access to the most up-to-date research and scientific publications;
  • Professional education opportunities, such as workshops and webinars;
  • Clinical tools and resources;
  • Patient education resources;
  • Quality improvement field staff support;
  • A competitive advantage in the health care marketplace;
  • National and local recognition for hospital team program achievement;
  • Submission of CMS Core Stroke Measures and other data; and
  • Performance feedback reporting for continuous quality improvement.

###

About Providence Alaska Medical Center
Providence Alaska Medical Center, a nationally recognized trauma center and Alaska’s only Magnet hospital, is part of Providence, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, affiliated services and educational facilities. For more information, visit providence.org/locations/ak/alaska-medical-center.

About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.

About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.