The Heart Institute at Jefferson Regional Medical Center has received the American College of Cardiology Foundation’s Get with the Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2008. Jefferson Regional is among a select group of 93 hospitals nationwide to receive this award.

The award recognizes Jefferson Regional’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. It signifies that Jefferson Regional has reached an aggressive goal of treating coronary artery disease patients and exceeds the high standards of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

Steve Dentel, regional quality improvement director with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), presented the award to Jefferson Regional administrators and clinical staff members.

Dentel told the group that the Silver Performance Achievement Award represents “every single one of you giving your time, dedication and passion to building healthier lives that are free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. That is our mission statement at the AHA/ASA.  You know you have found a true partner, friend and advocate when they can take your mission statement and easily make it part of theirs. This is what you have done as a hospital, as an organization, as individuals.”

He added that while some hospitals can say they “do” heart care at their facilities, “there are few that can say ‘Yes we do it, and we do it great.’ That is you, Jefferson Regional Medical Center.”

Accepting the award on behalf of The Heart Institute at Jefferson Regional, Sang B. Park, MD, medical director, Cardiovascular Surgical Services, said, “I will certainly convey your compliments to our cardiologists and primary care physicians, who are the foot soldiers for this award. In return, I will promise that we will continue to provide the best and most efficient cardiac program in the area.”  

Jefferson Regional has received many accolades for its heart program, including a recent top five-star rating for the quality of its valve replacement surgery and treatment of heart failure by HealthGrades, a top healthcare ratings company. The Medical Center also was recognized in a report by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) for a mortality rate in open heart surgery that is considered the best in the state.

“Jefferson Regional’s heart program is very competitive in the region and its volumes continue to grow. The medical staff is comprised of board-certified surgeons and cardiologists known for their success in performing complex cases and minimally invasive procedures on the heart and cardiovascular system,” said Thomas P. Timcho, president and CEO. “This award reaffirms our commitment to build on our successes to continue to exceed our patients’ expectations.”