UNC Health Lenoir recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality heart failure care
UNC Health Lenoir is Nationally Recognized for its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Heart Failure Care
UNC Health Lenoir has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Heart Failure Gold quality achievement award for its commitment to improving outcomes for patients with Heart Failure by reducing readmissions into the hospital leading to more healthy days at home. This is the fourth straight year the hospital and the Heart Failure team have been recognized.
About 6 million U.S. adults are living with Heart Failure (HF), a number that is expected to increase in the coming years. Despite the name, Heart Failure does not 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 is no cure for Heart Failure, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care providers to create and stick with a plan that includes medication, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle changes.
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 evidence- and research-based guidelines. The program aims to increase healthy days at home and reduce hospital readmissions for Heart Failure patients.
“UNC Health Lenoir is committed to improving patient care following the latest treatment guidelines,” states Dawn Becker, RN, BSN, Stroke and Heart Failure Program Coordinator. “Our hospital has received this recognition for the fourth year in a row, demonstrating high quality care for Heart Failure patients. In addition, this year we achieved American Heart Association Get with the Guidelines Heart Failure Honor Roll and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, meeting additional measures in delivery of quality care for Heart Failure patients. Our multidisciplinary team including Hospitalists, Cardiologists, Diabetes Management, Case Management, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Lenoir County Community Paramedics, and Nursing, has worked collaboratively and tirelessly to assure the highest quality of care for our patients and the citizens of Kinston, Lenoir County, and surrounding areas. It is with great pride that we serve the community delivering the best care possible.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award recognition by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for Heart Failure patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get with The Guidelines participants also provide education to patients to help them manage their illness at home.
About UNC Health Lenoir
UNC Health Lenoir, licensed for 199 beds, is a nonprofit organization serving the Lenoir County area with acute, outpatient, and community health services. The hospital has a 117-year history of providing excellent care to the community. In addition to general medical, surgical, and obstetrical and gynecological care, UNC Lenoir offers specialized services including cardiology, pulmonology, oncology, radiology, and urology. Surgical specialties include general, vascular, orthopedic, and bariatric with a staff trained to take exceptional care during recovery. UNC Lenoir affiliated with the UNC Health Care System in 2017. UNC Health is an integrated health care system based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is comprised of UNC Hospitals and its provider network, UNC Faculty Physicians and UNC Physicians Network.
