Baraboo, July 23, 2008 — St. Clare Hospital has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Associations for its performance in treating cardiac and stroke patients using the associations’ Get With The GuidelinesSM (GWTG) program.  St. Clare joins 518 other hospitals featured in an advertisement in the July 21st “America’s Best Hospitals” issue of US News & World Report.

GWTG is a hospital-based quality improvement program designed to ensure that hospitals consistently care for cardiac and stroke patients following the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations.  The program provides three modules that address coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.  Currently more than 1,450 hospitals use one or more GWTG modules.

Upon meeting each module’s criteria, hospitals are recognized if at least 85 percent of their cardiac or stroke patients are treated and discharged according to the recommendations. 

“The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize its top Get With The Guidelines participants,” said Gregg C Fonarow, M.D., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines steering committee.  “The program makes it easier for hospitals like St. Clare to provide appropriate evidence-based care and ultimately improve the quality of life and reduce the number of deaths in these heart and stroke patients.”

“We are proud that the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have chosen the ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ issue of US News & World Report to recognize St. Clare Hospital for our achievements,” said Lori Rudolph, St. Clare Chronic Disease Coordinator.  “Get With The Guidelines gives our nurses and doctors the tools and reports they need to effectively treat our patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke.” 

St. Clare received the GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award form the American Heart Association this spring for its treatment of patients with heart failure.