HOUSTON (July 29, 2020) — Harris Health System’s Ben Taub Hospital received national recognition for its treatment and care for heart attack, heart failure and stroke patients from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association. Ben Taub Hospital’s cardiology and stroke services were awarded four awards which acknowledge the hospital’s medical teams’ expertise and high use of technology to administer life-saving care to the sickest patients.
Awards received are:
- 2020 Mission: Lifeline® Gold Plus STEMI Receiving Center Achievement Award
- 2020 Mission: Lifeline® NSTEMI-Gold Achievement Award
- 2020 Get With The Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus and Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll Achievement Awards
- 2020 Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Achievement
These awards demonstrate the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart attack, heart failure and stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
Dr. Nasser Lakkis, chief, Cardiology, Ben Taub Hospital, and chair and professor, Baylor College of Medicine, says providing successful outcomes for patients is what motivates him and his team to elevate the standard of heart care offered to patients.
“Irrespective of background, race, social class or financial circumstance, our cardiology team is committed to provide high quality, comprehensive and coordinated care commensurate with the highest national standards,” Lakkis says. “Our outcomes are among the best in the city of Houston, and the nation, and every team member takes pride in the work they do and the impact they have on the community.”
Hospitals receiving Mission: Lifeline Gold Plus Receiving Achievement Award earn recognition for achieving 85% or higher composite adherence to all Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center quality achievement indicators with 75% or higher compliance using aggregated 2018 data on all Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center quality measures to improve the quality of care for STEMI patients.
Meanwhile, NSTEMI Gold Hospital earn Gold recognition for achieving at least two consecutive years interval with 65% or higher adherence to the dual antiplatelet therapy prescription at discharge and 75% or higher compliance on each of the other four quality measures.
Hospitals receiving Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Achievement Awards ensure heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Ben Taub Hospital reached the aggressive goal of treating patients with 85% or higher compliance to core standard levels of care as outlined by AHA for two consecutive calendar years.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for the care we provide to our patients,” says Dr. Nathan Deal, executive vice president and administrator, Ben Taub Hospital. “This is a true testament of the incredible work by our talented staff.”
Ben Taub’s Stroke Service was commended for meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
“Our stroke program has consistently received the highest level quality awards,” says Dr. Joseph Kass, chief of Neurology, Ben Taub Hospital, and professor, Neurology Department, Baylor College of Medicine. “This designation recognizes the hard work and commitment to excellence of our entire staff. Our team never rests on their laurels, but rather always strives to provide our patients the best, most effective and most compassionate stroke care possible—helping them regain neurological function so they may participate fully in all that life has to offer.”
Ben Taub Hospital additionally received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “overall diabetes cardiovascular initiative composite score.”