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

“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,” said Dr. Withrow. “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 death 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.

“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.

As part of its commitment to cardiac care, Western Baptist opened the only heart center of its kind west of Louisville last year. Learn more about your heart health by visiting westernbaptist.com/heart or by phoning Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.