Onslow Memo­r­i­al Hos­pi­tal is nation­al­ly rec­og­nized for its com­mit­ment to pro­vid­ing high-qual­i­ty heart fail­ure care

The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all heart failure patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.

June 27, 2023

Jacksonville, NC— Onslow Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® - Heart FailureGold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure; meaning reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.

About 6 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure (HF), a number that is expected to increase to more than 8 million by 2030.[1] Despite the name, HF doesn’t mean that the heart has stopped working – it means the heart is having a hard time pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there’s no cure for HF, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team to create and stick with a plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.

The Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. The program aims to increase healthy days at home and reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

“Onslow Memorial Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” Dr. Rose Morgan, DNP, MS, RN, CENP Chief Nursing Officer/Senior Vice President Patient Care Services. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in Onslow County and the communities we serve can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for HF patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their HF at home.

“We are pleased to recognize the leaders and teams at Onslow Memorial Hospital for a strong commitment to caring for people with heart failure,” said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., MSc, MACC, FAHA, MACP, FHFSA, national chairperson of the American Heart Association Heart Failure systems of care advisory group and chief, division of cardiology at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines quality improvement programs often see better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Onslow Memorial Hospital is also recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure^SM Honor Roll. Hospitals on the Honor Roll meet specific criteria that improves medication adherence, provides early follow-up care and coordination, and enhances patient education. The goal is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition. "This recognition is a testament of the continued and sustained work to provide ongoing excellent care for our Heart Failure and Stroke patients,” says Dr. Josephine Malfitano, DNP, MBA, RN, FNP-C, NE-BC, CPHQ, Associate Vice President. "This is a team effort that crosses multiple disciplines that support seamless work to ensure the standards set forth by the American Heart Association, in alignment with current evidenced based best practices, are hardwired in the day to day care."

Additionally, Onslow Memorial Hospital received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart disease or stroke.