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

Jacksonville, NC, July 30, 2024 — Onslow Memorial Hospital has been honored with the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for its dedication to improving outcomes for patients with heart failure. This means that the hospital has reduced readmissions and improved the number of healthy days at home for these patients.

Currently, about 6 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure, and it is expected that this number will rise to over 8 million by 2030. Despite its name, heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working; rather, it indicates that it is struggling to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there is no cure for heart failure, patients can lead a quality life by partnering with their healthcare team to develop and adhere to a treatment plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments.

The Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Quality Achievement award is granted to hospitals that exhibit a commitment to treating patients by the most current guidelines provided by the American Heart Association. This program leverages the expertise of the American Heart Association to assist hospitals nationwide in ensuring that patient care aligns with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. The overarching goal is to increase healthy days at home and decrease hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

Dr. Josephine Malfitano, Associate Vice President PI Accreditation, stated, “Onslow Memorial Hospital is dedicated to enhancing patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines. Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to implement proven knowledge and guidelines daily, which studies show can help patients recover better. The ultimate objective is to ensure that more people in Onslow County can enjoy longer, healthier lives.”

Each year, participating hospitals qualify for award recognition by demonstrating their organization's commitment to providing quality care for heart failure patients. In addition to adhering to treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also offer patient education to assist them in managing heart failure at home.

Sabra Lewsey, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Heart Failure System of Care Advisory Group and assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, remarked, “We are delighted to acknowledge the leaders and teams at Onslow Memorial Hospital for their strong commitment to caring for people with heart failure. Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure often witness improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions, and lower mortality rates – a victory for families, communities, and healthcare systems.”

Onslow Memorial Hospital has also earned a place on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure^SM Honor Roll. Hospitals on the Honor Roll meet specific criteria aimed at improving medication adherence, providing early follow-up care and coordination, and enhancing patient education. The objective is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients in managing this chronic condition to improve their quality of life.

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

###

About Onslow Memorial

Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH), originally founded in 1944, stands as a 162-bed acute care, community hospital located in coastal North Carolina, serving the city of Jacksonville and greater Onslow County. Onslow Memorial Hospital is nationally accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and a proud affiliate of UNC Health Care.

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.