Columbus Regional Healthcare System Receives American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines(R) Recognition GOLD Award

Strategic Insights -

People living in rural communities face a 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease and a 30% increased risk for stroke mortality compared to their urban counterparts. Columbus Regional Healthcare System, driven by a commitment to bridging the healthcare gap in rural areas, has been recognized for its efforts to optimize stroke care and eliminate disparities. The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines(R) Recognition GOLD award acknowledges the hospital's dedication to providing timely and evidence-based care to individuals in need.

Key Takeaways:

  • The American Heart Association recognizes Columbus Regional Healthcare System for its efforts in optimizing stroke care and eliminating rural health care outcome disparities through the Get With The Guidelines(R) Recognition GOLD award.
  • A higher likelihood of developing heart disease (40%) and increased risk for stroke mortality (30%) characterize the health challenges faced by people living in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts.
  • The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of healthcare services provided to people living in rural areas by rural hospitals, which play a crucial role in initiating timely evidence-based care.
  • Columbus Regional Healthcare System's commitment to healthcare excellence and stroke care improvement in Columbus County and surrounding areas is reflected in its achievement of the Get With The Guidelines(R) Recognition GOLD award.
  • The award recognizes the hospital's efforts toward acute stroke care excellence, demonstrated by composite score compliance to guideline-directed care for intravenous thrombolytic therapy, timely hospital inter-facility transfer, dysphagia screening, symptom timeline and deficit assessment documentation, emergency medical services communication, brain imaging, and stroke expert consultation.
  • Jason Beck, CRHS CEO, emphasizes the hospital's pride in being recognized for its efforts to improve the lives of people in Columbus County and surrounding areas affected by stroke.
  • Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, highlights the significance of Columbus Regional Healthcare System continuing the work to improve care for all Americans, regardless of their location, as part of the American Heart Association's efforts to address health inequity in rural communities.
  • The American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines(R) quality improvement program provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines, aiming to save lives and hasten recovery.

Statistics:

  • A 40% higher likelihood of developing heart disease faces people living in rural communities.
  • A 30% increased risk for stroke mortality is associated with rural populations compared to their urban counterparts.
  • 3 years fewer is the average lifespan difference observed between people living in rural communities and their urban counterparts.
  • Over 14 million patients have been impacted by the Get With The Guidelines(R) hospital-based quality improvement program since 2001.
  • July 23 marks the date when Columbus Regional Healthcare System issued the news release announcing the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines(R) Recognition GOLD award.

Sources:

  • [1] American Heart Association. American Heart Association issues call to action for addressing inequities in rural health. February 10, 2020. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/american-heart-association-issues-call-to-action-for-addressing-inequities-in-rural-health
  • [2] American Heart Association. Public Health AmeriCorps to address health inequity in rural communities. April 6, 2022. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/public-health-americorps-to-address-health-inequity-in-rural-communities
  • [3] Harrington R, et al. Call to Action: Rural Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Circulation. 2020;141:e615--e644.