Return to Main Menu

American Heart Association recognizes MUSC for GWTG MUSC was recognized for participating in an American Heart Association and American Stroke Association program, Get With The Guidelines (GWTG).   The program helps ensure that the care hospitals provide for coronary artery diseases and that stroke and heart failure are aligned with the latest scientific guidelines. The level of achievement shows MUSC’s commitment to implement a higher standard of care for heart disease and stroke patients.   Get With The Guidelines helps ensure that patients treated and discharged receive quality care in accordance with guidelines that will reduce the risk of secondary events. It takes advantage of the teachable moment, or the time soon after an acute event, when patients are most likely to listen to their health care professionals’ treatment recommendations. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.   Under the protocols, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics and anticoagulants in the hospital. In the case of stroke, they may receive tPA, antithrombotics and DVT prohphylaxis. If indicated, patients also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling and referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.   MUSC’s staff develops and implements acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable MUSC to improve the quality of care it provides heart disease and stroke patients, save lives and ultimately, reduce health care costs by lowering recurrence of events.   “MUSC is dedicated to making our care for heart disease and stroke patients among the best in the country. We will continue in our efforts to fully implement this valuable program,” said Peter Zwerner, M.D., cardiology, MUSC. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our professionals to improve the long-term outcomes of our cardiac and stroke patients, and we are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements.”   Each year more than 450,000 people suffer a recurrent heart attack, about five million people suffer from heart failure and about 700,000 people suffer a stroke.     “The full implementation of acute and secondary prevention guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives of patients,” said Gray Ellrodt, M.D., chairman of the GWTG Steering Committee. “The aim of the American Heart Associa-tion’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like MUSC implement appropriate evidence-based guidelines for care and protocols that will reduce the number of deaths in these patients and in their communities.”   For more information, visit http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1165. Friday, March 2, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.