The American Heart Association has presented Saint Mary’s Hospital with a Gold Performance Achievement Award for providing outstanding care to heart failure patients.

This recognition signifies that Saint Mary’s is following national guidelines and procedures established by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology for the care of heart failure patients, with the goal of preventing future hospitalizations.

The American Heart Association has recognized Saint Mary’s as a two-time Gold Award winner for cardiac care. In 2009, Saint Mary’s became the first and only Connecticut hospital to win the Gold Award for coronary artery disease and a Silver Award for heart failure treatment.

 “Saint Mary’s winning performance under Get With The Guidelines demonstrates our commitment to quality care,” said cardiologist Dr. Paul Kelly. “It’s a difference that shows in the lives of our patients and their families, and in the satisfaction felt by our caregivers who are empowered to do their best.”

Hospitals who receive the Get With The Guidelines Gold Award have reached an aggressive goal of providing “defect-free” treatment for at least 85 percent of heart failure patients in accordance with a series of national quality measures. Saint Mary’s actually exceeded that goal, providing “defect-free” treatment to more than 94 percent of heart failure patients over a period of two years.

Saint Mary’s Celebrates Gold and Silver Awards from American Heart Association with Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Craig