Concord Hospital-Franklin and -Laconia earn stroke program awards

LACONIA — Concord Hospital -Franklin and -Laconia have received American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards. The award is for hospitals that stay up to date on research-based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives being saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

This year, CHF and CHL each received gold for Rural Stroke Care while Laconia also received Silver Plus with Target for Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

The Target: Stroke award recognizes hospitals that meet specific criteria to reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy. The Target: Type 2 Diabetes award shows CHL ensures 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 stroke.

“Concord Hospital — Franklin and Laconia are committed to improving care by following the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely, effective care for heart attacks and strokes,” said CHMG Chief Administrative Officer and CH Vice President of Operations Bill Dooley. “Through the Get With The Guidelines program, our teams can put proven best practices to work every day, helping more people here in the Lakes Region live longer, healthier lives close to home.”

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines. As a participant in the Get With The Guidelines programs, CHF and CHL qualified for the award by demonstrating how their staff are committed to improving quality care.

“These awards show Concord Hospital Franklin and Laconia's commitment to caring for those in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, past volunteer president of the American Heart Association and current volunteer chair of the Association’s Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, CHF and CHL can help realize our shared vision of improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

For more information, visit crhc.org.