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VALLEY BAPTIST-HARLINGEN RANKED IN TOP 20% IN NATION FOR 4th YEAR IN ROW FOR HEART FAILURE TREATMENT
Harlingen, TX --
For the fourth year in a row, life-saving care provided by physicians and employees at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen has resulted in Valley Baptist being ranked in the top 20 percent in entire United States in the treatment of heart failure, according to the federal government.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Premier, Inc. conduct the pay-for-performance demonstration project to reward quality and performance among the nation’s hospitals. A total of 225 hospitals in the country will receive monetary bonus rewards for using scientifically-proven “best practices” in treating their patients. Valley Baptist-Harlingen will receive a total of $172,892 – the most in the state of Texas and 6th most in the nation -- because of its outstanding performance in heart failure management, life-saving treatments of heart attack, coronary artery bypass graft procedures, hip and knee procedures, and pneumonia treatment.
Valley Baptist-Harlingen also was one of only three hospitals in Texas – and one of only 27 hospitals in the entire country -- to receive eight of a possible 10 awards in the government’s rankings. Valley Baptist was the only hospital in South Texas in this category, as the other Texas hospitals are located in Victoria, south of Houston; and Cleburne, south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Six other hospitals, all outside of Texas, won nine awards, while four hospitals (in California, Virginia, and Wisconsin) won all 10 awards.
“Congratulations to all of the physicians, nurses and other health professionals whose dedication to providing quality patient care has once again made Valley-Baptist-Harlingen among the very best in the entire country in treating heart failure patients,” said James Eastham, CEO for Valley Baptist Health System. “This outstanding achievement is something the entire Rio Grande Valley can be proud of, and reflects the commitment of our physicians and employees to save lives and to improve the quality of life for each of our patients.”
Mr. Eastham added that the government’s rankings are additional proof that Valley residents have access to the “highest quality of healthcare -- right here at home.”
Valley Baptist’s top performance in heart failure management has previously been noted in national publications such as Modern Healthcare and U.S. News & World Report. The heart failure management program at VBMC-Harlingen aims to prevent complications in patients at risk for heart failure. The program includes medication management, as well as education on diet and other aspects of heart care.
Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart's muscle becomes weakened because of a heart attack or high blood pressure. The condition causes the heart to lose its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs. Heart failure affects thousands of Valley residents and more than five million people across the country – and kills 57,000 Americans every year. But with earlier diagnosis and newer treatments, people with heart failure are able to continue enjoying their everyday activities and have a more normal life expectancy.
The government’s rankings of hospitals are based on “core measures” that have been clinically proven to improve care for patients with heart failure. These “best practice standards” for heart failure include:
• Performing assessments of the function of the left ventricle of the heart
• Using effective medications to treat patients with heart failure:
o ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, or
o ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers)
• Providing detailed discharge instructions to each patient
• Providing advice and counseling on how important it is to quit smoking -- before the patient is discharged.
Valley Baptist has implemented ongoing quality improvement initiatives which have focused on evidenced-based medical management of heart failure patients. These improvements have resulted in fewer patients returning to the Emergency Dept. In addition, those patients who do return are doing so at an earlier stage, when treatment is more effective. Improved management of these heart conditions has also resulted in reduced length of stay in the hospital and other improvements in patient outcomes.
For more information on improvements in the quality of care at Valley Baptist, go to www.ValleyBaptist.net.
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