Gill Heart Institute Receives Gold Quality Achievement Award

UK HealthCare's Gill Heart Institute has received the "Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation Gold Quality Achievement Award" for maintaining specific quality measures outlined by the American Heart Association for the treatment of patients who suffer cardiac arrests in the hospital. This year marks the second year that Gill has received Gold designation. "We are committed to providing the best possible outcomes for our patients, and it's gratifying to have the quality of our care acknowledged by the American Heart Association," said Dr. Susan Smyth, director of UK HealthCare's Gill Heart Institute. According to Dr. Melina Aguinaga-Meza, Gill Heart Institute's Resuscitation Committee Chair, patients aren't the only ones who benefit. "By participating in the Get With The Guidelines program, we are able to share expertise with other member hospitals around the country, including access to the most up-to-date research, clinical tools and resources, and patient education resources," Dr. Aguinaga-Meza said. "What this means for Kentuckians is that the gold standard for heart care is available right here in Lexington." The Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation program was developed with the goal to save the lives of those who experience cardiac arrests by following the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for treatment. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR) and post-emergency care. More than 200,000 adults and children have an in-hospital cardiac arrest each year, according to the American Heart Association.