Stony Brook University Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines^®-Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award. The Gold Plus award — received for the third consecutive year — recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring heart failure patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines founded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.  

Quality Achievement 

Stony Brook earned the award by demonstrating how it has committed to providing quality care for patients with heart failure. In addition to following treatment guidelines, awardees also provide education to patients to help them manage their heart failure once at home. 

• Top rated for three consecutive years
• Quality heart failure management
• Improving care and patient outcomes
• Helping patients live healthier lives

Improving Patient Outcomes

“The award is a reflection of Stony Brook University Hospital's commitment to excellence in heart failure care,” said Marc Goldschmidt, MD, Director, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center and Medical Director, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program. 

“Research has shown that by adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative, we can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates,” added Edlira Tam, DO, Associate Director, VAD Program.

“Being part of this initiative means that we continuously track our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines — all with the ultimate goal of delivering optimal outcomes for our patients,” said Hal Skopicki, MD, PhD, Co-Director, Stony Brook Heart Institute; Chief, Cardiology and Ambassador Charles A. Gargano Chair, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. 

Michelle Bloom, MD, Director, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center, added “Comprehensive care of our patients with heart failure requires an entire team including specialized nurses, nurse practitioners, coordinators, physicians and researchers who not only diagnose advanced cardiology disease but are experts at determining its cause and providing cutting-edge care.”

According to the American Heart Association, more than 6.5 million adults in the United States are living with heart failure. Many heart failure patients can lead a full, enjoyable life when their condition is managed with proper medications or devices and with healthy lifestyle changes. 

About Get With The Guidelines 

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 9 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org. 

The Stony Brook Difference

As a patient at the Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center, you benefit by having the expertise of heart specialists at Stony Brook Heart Institute who collaborate to bring you advanced cardiac care. The Center is widely recognized for our commitment to our patients, as evidenced by both the Advanced Certification Award in Heart Failure from The Joint Commission and the 2021 Get With The Guidelines® — Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.