​​Floyd Medical Center has received the American Heart Association's Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines^®-Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award for its commitment to managing heart failure in patients.

​The award recognizes the hospital's commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

More than 6.5 million adults in the United States 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 changes.

“Floyd Medical Center is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our patients with heart failure by implementing the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure initiative," said Lee Clevenger, Director of Critical Care and Cardiovascular Services at Floyd. “The end goal is to ensure more people in our region can experience longer, healthier lives." 

Each year program participants apply for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for heart failure patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their heart failure once at home. There are six levels of achievement – Gold Plus, Gold, Silver Plus, Silver, Bronze and Participating.

“We are pleased to recognize Floyd Medical Center for their commitment to heart failure care," said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., MSc, MACC, FAHA, MACP, FHFSA, national chairperson of the American Heart Association Heart Failure systems of care advisory group and chief, division of cardiology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. “Hospitals that follow Get With The Guidelines protocols often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for healthcare systems, families and communities."

Floyd Medical Center is also recognized on the association's Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll. Hospitals are required to meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides early follow-up care and coordination and enhances patient education. The goal is to reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.

​The hospital also additionally received the Association's Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90 percent​ compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score."

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 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.