Regional Hospital of Scranton Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Quality Care for Heart Attacks

Regional Hospital of Scranton Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Quality Care for Heart Attacks

7/24/2024

Commonwealth Health is proud to share that Regional Hospital of Scranton has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines® - Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus recognition for its 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.

Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience this type of heart attack, caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Nearly 40% of people who go to the emergency room with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with a STEMI. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible.

Recognition as a STEMI Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI. These important facilities coordinate with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care.

"Effective and timely care is crucial for patients experiencing a STEMI heart attack. The American Heart Association's guidelines call for specific interventions for these patients both in-hospital and post-hospitalization," said Abhinav Goyal, M.D., MHS, FACC, FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer, professor in the Department of Cardiology at Emory School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and chief quality officer for the Emory Heart and Vascular Center. "Regional Hospital is among the institutions recognized for their commitment to providing evidence-based STEMI treatment and care coordination, ensuring the best outcomes for these patients."

The STEMI Receiving Center award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for STEMI care as outlined by the American Heart Association.

"Regional Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of heart care and the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program helps us achieve that goal," said Michael Curran, CEO of Regional Hospital of Scranton. "The program puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis so patients have the best possible chance of survival."

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