Western Baptist Hospital is the first Kentucky hospital west of Louisville to receive an American Heart Association award for its high standard of care. 

Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., medical director of the new Baptist Heart Center, said the Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease (GWTG-CAD) Bronze Performance Achievement award is a testament to the hospital’s dedication to heart patients in the region.

“If you think we’re excited about the award, you should see our patients!” said Withrow. “This means we have achieved a high level of success in working with the American Heart Association to make cardiac care consistent with the latest evidence-based guidelines. That translates into better patient outcomes and more lives saved.”

The heart association’s Get With The Guidelines award recognizes Western Baptist’s efforts to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks and deaths among patients with cardiovascular disease. Patients receive cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin and other recommended medication in the hospital, as well as smoking cessation, weight management counseling and referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged.

Meri Curtis, Western Baptist’s director of quality resources, said the award recognizes quality patient care provided daily at Western Baptist.

 “A mother recently told me that her son asked to come to Western Baptist for his cardiac care because of excellent care provided to their family,” she said. “The personal recommendation from patients and family is rewarding because we know following the guidelines truly affects patients’ lives.”

Dr. Withrow said Western Baptist is dedicated to making its cardiac unit among the best in the country.

“The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is helping us accomplish that by making it easier for our dedicated physicians and staff to improve the long-term care of heart patients,” he said.

Hospitals that receive the GWTG-CAD Bronze Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for at least 90 days that 85 percent of its eligible coronary patients (without contraindications) are discharged following the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines. 

“The American Heart Association applauds Western Baptist Hospital for its success in implementing the appropriate evidence-based care and protocols to reduce the number of recurrent events and deaths in cardiovascular disease patients,” said Gregg C Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. “Western Baptist has achieved a high level of performance in terms of implementing these life-prolonging treatments.”

As part of its commitment to cardiac care, Western Baptist opened the only heart center of its kind west of Louisville last year and now has met American Heart Association guidelines for excellence. Learn more about your heart health by visiting westernbaptist.com/heart of by phoning Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.