North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health Again Earns Accolades from the American Heart Association

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Member News

(North Kansas City, Mo. August 19, 2024) – For the second consecutive year, North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health received the highest level of recognition awarded by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for participating in its quality improvement registry Get With the Guidelines®.

Among NKCH and MH’s six awards is a third consecutive Gold Plus Award for Stroke Care and a second consecutive Gold Plus Award for Heart Failure.

The awards demonstrate that NKCH and MH’s care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines in providing quality care for heart failure and stroke patients. This treatment extends beyond the physician’s office and includes resources designed to educate patients and help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“The American Heart Association’s reputation speaks for itself,” said Stephen Reintjes Sr., MD, president and CEO of North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health. “We are pleased to once again accept these awards which show our continued commitment to providing exceptional care for heart failure and stroke patients through Get With the Guidelines.”

Here are the six awards NKCH and MH received from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

Heart Failure Care Awards:

  1. Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus. For commitment to treating patients with heart failure with the most up-to-date American Heart Association guidelines and improving patient outcomes through reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.
  2. Target: Heart FailureSM Honor Roll. Given to hospitals that meet specific criteria that improve medication adherence, provide early follow-up care and coordination, and enhance patient education. The goal is to further reduce hospital readmissions and help patients improve their quality of life in managing this chronic condition.
  3. Target: Type 2 DiabetesSM Honor Roll. This award aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized because of heart disease or stroke.

Stroke Care Awards:

  1. Get With the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus. For commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reducing disability.
  2. Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite Plus. Given to hospitals that meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.
  3. Target: Type 2 DiabetesSM Honor Roll. This award aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized because of stroke.

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 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

About North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health

For more than 65 years, North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland’s preferred healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide hope and healing to every life we touch.

NKCH is an acute care facility with 451 licensed beds and more than 600 physicians representing 49 medical specialties. From our award-winning cardiovascular and orthopedic programs to our cancer, emergency, neuroscience, spine, women’s and other services, we provide a lifetime of care.

Through our Meritas Health subsidiary, NKCH offers the largest network of provider practices in the Northland, with more than 280 primary and specialty care doctors and advanced practice providers in over 35 convenient locations, including an express care clinic in the 64th Street Hy-Vee store.

For More Information:
Amy Schemenauer
North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health
Office: 816.691.3042
Mobile: 816.225.3225
Email: amy.schemenauer@nkch.org