For the seventh consecutive year, Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center has earned Gold certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) for the care it provides heart failure patients. The AHA releases its Get With The Guidelines honorees annually.

The Get With The Guidelines – Heart Failure quality achievement award is earned by hospitals that demonstrate a commitment to treating patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines outlined by the AHA.

The guidelines put the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research and evidence-based guidelines.

About 6.2 million U.S. adults are living with heart failure. Despite the name, heart failure doesn't mean that the heart has stopped working – it means the heart is having a hard time pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body. While there's no cure for heart failure, patients can live a quality life by working with their health care team and stick with a plan that may include medication, symptom monitoring and lifestyle changes.

Lee Clevenger, director of Cardio-Vascular Services at Floyd Medical Center, said heart educators Stephanie Durall and Keely Harris are instrumental in the hospital's success in treating cardiac patients.

“This is a true reflection of the hard work that Stephanie and Keely do to educate our staff and patients," Clevenger said. “The award reflects a history of work that continues to strive for excellence and provides great heart care to our patients and their families."

The Heart Failure Clinic at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center helps patients successfully manage their condition. The clinic helps people learn to take better care of themselves and manage their chronic disease by providing educational resources, lab work and medication administration.

Floyd Medical Center is also recognized with the AHA's Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll. Hospitals on the Honor Roll meet specific measures 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.

The hospital also received the AHA's Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to heart disease or stroke.