Pomona Valley Hospital Awarded for Heart Failure Prevention

The Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center was recently recognized by the American Heart Association for its efforts in fighting heart failure.

The award is given to hospitals for encouraging patients to engage in certain preventive therapies like taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, and receiving training in alcohol and drug use and thyroid management counseling.

“Pomona Valley Hospital is dedicated to being among the top hospitals nationwide in the care of heart failure patients," Dr. Rama Thumati, Medical Director of PVHMC’s Stead Heart and Vascular Center, said.

In 2011, the hospital was also recognized nationally as a Thomson Reuters 50 top Cardiovascular Hospitals.

The AHA program, called Get With The Guidelines, provides consistent and specific guidelines for treating heart failure and strokes.

Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee, said the goal of the program is "to help healthcare providers implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and death and improve the quality of life for patients."

Pomona Valley received the program's Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, which is given to hospitals that have 85 percent or more patients adhere to at least two of the AHA guidelines or at least 75 percent adhering to at least four of the guidelines.

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.7 million people suffer from heart failure. Statistics also show that, each year, 670,000 new cases are diagnosed and more than 277,000 people will die of heart failure.

For more information on the program, visit the American Heart Association's website and the website of the Pomona Valley Medical Center Hospital.