Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

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, which Stony Brook has 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 grounded in the latest scientific evidence. The goal is speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. 

“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 at the Stony Brook University Heart Institute. 

Cardiology

Front Row: Hal Skopicki, MD, PhD; Anne Marie Berggren, RDN, MS, CDN, CNSC; Lauren Weiss, RN; Monica Fox, RN; Lauren Pilato, NP; Ann Marie, Schneider, Social Services; Edlira Tam, DO, Associate Medical Director, VAD Program; Michelle Weisfelner Bloom, MD, Director, Outpatient Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center; Marc Goldschmidt, MD, Director, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center and Medical Director, VAD Program; Allison J. McLarty, MD, Surgical Director, VAD Program; Terri Springer, NP. Back Row: Philip Travaglia, RN, Clinical Documentation Specialist; Caitlin Borriello, NP; Jillian Fitzgerald, RN, VAD Coordinator; Nancy Utano, RN; Omar Blagrove, VAD Program Administrator; Peter Reilly, NP, VAD Coordinator; Stephen Handzel, RN, MS, Assistant Director, Nursing, Noninvasive Cardiology; Melissa Goldstein, RN

“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 of the VAD Program at the Stony Brook University Heart Institute.

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.

“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 University Heart Institute and the Ambassador Charles A. Gargano Chief of Cardiology. 

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

Stony Brook University Hospital’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure Quality Achievement Award is significant as it is the highest of six levels of achievement – Gold Plus, Gold, Silver Plus, Silver, Bronze and Participating.