The American College of Cardiology has given Columbus Regional Health its Platinum Performance Achievement Award for quality standards of care.
The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to the highest care standards and guidelines possible for heart patients, as outlined by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. To receive the designation, a health system has to have followed the guidelines for at least eight consecutive quarters and met a performance standard of 90 percent or higher for specific outcome measures.
Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, as needed.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 700,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year.
