Hospital program helps heart failure patients
St. Luke Hospital and Living Center recently received recognition from the American Heart Association as a participant in the "Get With the Guidelines — Heart Failure" (GWTG-HF) program.
The recognition signifies the hospital is participating in the program that provides hospital staff with information that follows proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures for heart failure patients in the hospital's care. The program also provides information about care to prevent future hospitalizations.
The program encourages heart failure patients to start aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics, and anti-coagulants while in the hospital. They also receive counseling for alcohol and drug use, thyroid management, and referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.
"Get With the Guidelines" helps St. Luke Hospital staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality-improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders, and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline information will enable the hospital to improve the quality of care it provides to heart failure patients, save lives, and ultimately, reduce health care costs by lowering the recurrence of heart attacks.
Lighting ceremony is Sunday
The Marion community is invited to attend the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Central Park.
Pastor Carl Helm will provide a Christmas meditation.
