Several Gundersen Health System critical access hospitals have been recognized nationally for their continued success in improving patient outcomes across cardiovascular and stroke focus areas.
Each year, the American Heart Association recognizes hospitals that adhere to the requirements of its Get With the Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline Stroke programs, which address various areas of importance to the AHA, including stroke, heart failure, resuscitation, AFib and coronary artery disease.
Get With the Guidelines
People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality — a gap that has grown over the past two decades. Gundersen Moundview and Gundersen Boscobel Area Hospital and Clinics are committed to changing that.
For their efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate rural health care outcome disparities, the hospitals were presented with the Get With the Guidelines Rural Stroke award at the Silver level. Get With the Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to the latest scientific treatment guidelines.
In addition, Gundersen Moundview received a Silver achievement in the Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI and a Bronze in Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring. Gundersen Boscobel was also awarded a Bronze in Rural Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring. These awards recognize the hospitals’ commitment to offering rapid, research-based care to people experiencing a specific type of heart attack known as an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks.
Mission: Lifeline Stroke
In addition, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital was recognized for its participation in the AHA’s Mission: Lifeline Stroke initiative, which exists to enhance guideline-based post-acute care for stroke patients. Gundersen Palmer was awarded certificate of achievement for its early adoption of the program standards and for providing high-quality stroke care in the community.
Certificate of achievement recipients have committed to establishing a stroke-specific rehab program, providing stroke education to all staff members, implementing evidence-based protocols and policies, and continuous quality improvement.