HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital Nationally Recognized for Cardiovascular Care

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

 

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

 

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines program, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital qualified for the award by demonstrating how its organization has committed to improving quality care.

 

“HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines, and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” said Zach McCluskey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “The Get With The Guidelines program makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in the Fort Walton Beach-Destin area experience longer, healthier lives.” 

 

This year, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital received these achievement awards:

• Gold Plus – Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus

• Gold Plus – Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll 

 

“We are pleased to recognize HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for its commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, past president of the American Heart Association and executive vice president for health system affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. “Hospitals that follow the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols often see improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”